The chief of the Mansfield (Texas) Police Department died Wednesday of complications from surgery. Chief Steven Noonkester, 60, was operated on two weeks ago for an aortic aneurism, city officials said.
"It's been a big shock. Everyone expected him to come back," city spokeswoman Belinda Willis told the Dallas Morning News. "It's a tremendous loss for us."
Chief Noonkester had served with the department for 18 years, working his way up from patrol officer.
"We have not had a lot of turnover in the police department, and that's due in part to Chief Noonkester because so many people liked him," Willis said.
