Raleigh, N.C. — A six-person advisory panel appointed to help restructure the beleaguered state Highway Patrol met Tuesday to discuss the hiring of an interim commander.

Col. Randy Glover unexpectedly announced last month that he would step down on Sept. 1, saying he didn't want to become a target for the patrol's critics.

Among the panel's recommendations was that the interim commander be someone with a solid record in the highway patrol and who passes rigorous background checks, according to panel member Burley Mitchell.

Panel members are also looking at policy changes, which could include more ethics training and the reassigning of some patrol members from office to field duty.

Gov. Beverly Perdue formed the panel after misconduct cases involving troopers.

The panel includes University of North Carolina law professors Julius Chambers and Norma Houston, former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Peter Gilchrist, former state Court of Appeals Judge Ralph Walker and Mitchell, who is a former state Supreme Court Justice.

Mitchell said the panel revised a draft of their report Tuesday.  The final report is due by Sept. 1.