Montana News

Hickethier takes over at new chief of Montana Highway Patrol

Posted: Feb 1, 2013 6:59 PM by Lindsey Gordon - MTN News
Updated: Feb 1, 2013 7:00 PM

The Montana Highway Patrol welcomed Kenton Hickethier as its new chief and bid farewell to its 17th chief, Colonel Michael Tooley, during a ceremony in Helena on Friday.

Hickethier was appointed as chief of the Montana Highway Patrol by Montana Attorney General Tim Fox.

During Friday's ceremony, Hickethier was promoted to the rank of colonel.

After being sworn in, Colonel Hickethier said to his fellow troopers, "I look forward to working with you and making the future of Montanans even brighter. It is no secret, I feel policing is one of the noblest professions that a person can undertake. It has incredible rewards and responsibilities."

Hickethier has served with the MHP for more than 27 years, 17 of them in administrative capacities ranging from oversight responsibility for several districts, personnel management, policy implementation, budgetary oversight, and training.

He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Northwestern University's Police Staff and Command College, and the DEA's Drug Commanders Academy.

He retired as a chief master sergeant from the Air National Guard, where his 24 years in the security police field included overseas deployment to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Tooley was recently appointed by Governor Steve Bullock as the new director of the Montana Department of Transportation.