Longtime Hurst resident lands top police job

Assistant Police Chief Steve Niekamp is no stranger to Hurst and will assume the department’s top job Feb. 1.

“I am excited about the opportunity. I was born and raised in Hurst,” Niekamp said. “To be the police chief in the city where I was raised is pretty neat.”

Niekamp, 49, has worked for the department for 28 years. He replaces Police Chief Steve Moore who retired Jan. 18. Moore had worked 40 years for the city and said it was now time to travel and spend time with his family.

“I will miss Chief Moore,” Niekamp said. “He was very patient and even-tempered.”

Niekamp, who will lead a department with 75 sworn officers. Hurst is known for having the highest starting salary for police officers in Tarrant County’s 10 largest cities. Niekamp will earn $142,000 as police chief.

The new chief said he wants to continue working under Moore’s philosophy of letting officers “run with their ideas.”

“Steve was very professional and forward-thinking,” Niekamp said. “ He found new programs. Police know what they need and they are good at seeing what is out there,” he said.

Niekamp said he watched “westerns and cop shows” while he was growing up and decided he wanted to be a police officer when he was a senior in high school.

He was accepted to the police academy when he was 21.

He worked as a patrol officer, community services officer, patrol supervisor and patrol commander. Niekamp became assistant police chief 10 years ago.

“I’ve enjoyed working with everybody,” Niekamp said. “There are a lot of people in the community who care about us and support us.”

This story was originally published January 29, 2018 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Longtime Hurst resident lands top police job."