GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — The Gardner City Council has unanimously voted to select a Kansas City, Missouri, police major as its new police chief.

The Kansas City Star reports James Pruetting will take over as chief of the Johnson County city later this month.

The eastern Kansas community voted Monday to select Pruetting, who will fill the job that’s been vacant since the previous chief resigned last June.

Gardner Mayor Chris Morrow says Pruetting brings a wealth of experience to the job and was chosen after an “exhaustive” search.