The Taft Police Department has hired a new police chief.

Lieutenant Damon McMinn from the Kern County Sheriff's Office accepted the job and will replace Chief Ed Whiting on March 1, according to Taft City Manager Craig Jones.

McMinn has spent most of his law enforcement career with KCSO. He is also the son of former Taft Police Chief Ken McMinn, Jones said.

Whiting has served as Taft Police Chief for the last five years.