Detective Sgt. Dave McKichan will be sworn in as the first Austin police captain in over three years at a pinning ceremony Nov. 15.

City Council approved Police Chief Brian Krueger’s recommendation of McKichan Monday night.

McKichan’s pinning ceremony will mark the first time Austin Police Department (APD) will have a captain since Curt Rude was put on leave in 2007.

McKichan has been with the APD for over 13 years and received the Narcotics Officer of the Year award last year.

“He is definitely the most qualified for the position,” Krueger said at the council meeting.

Upon McKichan’s promotion, two detective positions will open up in the department, Krueger said. He said he plans on hiring from within the department for those openings, but that won’t happen until closer to February when the two new patrol officers, Rian Jones and Kris Stein, are fully trained and working on their own.

Krueger also said one of the new detectives will also fill McKichan’s position on the Southeast Minnesota Narcotics and Gang Task Force.

The pinning will be held in City Council chambers the evening of Nov. 15.