Putthoff was appointed recently by the Tonganoxie City Council to fill the position, which formerly was held by Lt. Mark Williams. Williams, 44, died Aug. 20 from a heart attack.

Putthoff, who also was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant, will serve as acting chief until the city’s police chief, Ken Carpenter, returns from active military duty.

That’s expected to occur Sept. 22. Carpenter, who is in the 917th Corps Support Unit of the Army Reserves, was called to active duty in February.

“We expect him back in mid- to late-September, assuming the Army doesn’t change his orders between now and then,” City Administrator Shane Krull said.

Putthoff had held the rank of sergeant since April 2000.

Now that he is lieutenant, the department will need a sergeant, but that position won’t be filled until Carpenter returns.

“Chief Carpenter wanted to wait until he came back to address the sergeant’s position with the governing body,” Krull said.