Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced Friday she will tap a top official with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration to lead the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The selection of Erik Smith will come as current Supt. Herman Jones leaves the agency.
CJOnline.com reports Jones’ tenure was marred by lawsuits and allegations by female subordinates of sexual harassment, claims of low morale and difficulty attracting new troopers.
Smith served for nine years in the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department before moving to the DEA, where he has fulfilled a variety of roles in two decades of work with the agency. Most recently, he has served acting assistant administrator and chief of the inspection division within the DEA.
Smith is an Ellsworth native and graduated from Friends University in Wichita.
