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From left to right: Officer Steve Miller was promoted to Kingston Assistant Police Chief, former Assistant Police Chief Chris Watson was promoted to Police Chief and Officer Kevin Smith received a pay raise. James Bowser • The Madill Record
The Kingston City Council met on December 8 for their typical monthly meeting. Quite a few agenda items were just as typical as the meeting. The two agenda items that were not typical were the discussion and action on promoting Kingston Assistant Police Chief Chris Watson to the coveted position of police chief and Officer John (Steve) Miller to be Watson’s righthand man — assistant police chief.
Watson moved to Kingston from Lindsay over 18 years ago and made Marshall County his home. He began as a Kingston Reserve Officer in mid-2016 and quickly worked his way up through the ranks.
Even though he has only been in law enforcement for over four years, he said he has years of supervisory experience.
“I have been a supervisor in almost every job that I have worked,” Watson said.
Watson graduated from the Durant Police Academy and the Ada Police Academy.
The new police chief said his plans do not deviate much from what former Police Chief John Bridgeman had, he is just adding a few things.
“My plans for the Department are to push forth with previous plans that Chief Bridgeman and I had set out to accomplish when he was in office,” Watson said, “as well as plans that I have added to the list that include some of updating the P.P.E in the department along with a full new look of the department.”
Watson said he is proud of the improvement and advancement of the police department and is proud to be a continual gear in the cog.
“This department has come a long way moving forward,” Watson said. “I intend to keep that stride going and make improvements every day that I can. The officers of this department often speak of what we can do to make the town of Kingston better. The officers of this town often express how much this town means to them and the awesomeness of the people that live here.”
Miller has been on the Kingston Police Force for over three years. He has been in law enforcement for 13 years, serving in the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Police Department and the Durant Police Reserve —where he served in the capacity of Captain.
Miller has never served as an assistant chief, however, he served almost eight years as in Intelligence Analyst for the US Army Europe. He currently holds an Intermediate level CLEET certificate, but he is currently working to finish his Associates Degree. Once he completes that, he will be awarded the Advanced level CLEET.