As a reporter on the graveyard shift at KMOV, Erica Van Ross is used to chasing down shootings and fires in the middle of the night.

Now, she’ll be on the other side of the tape — and probably with better hours.

Van Ross has been named the St. Louis Police Department’s new director of public information, a position that promises to keep her busy as killings in the city continue to swell.

In her early 30s, Van Ross graduated from University of Kansas and has a master’s degree from Syracuse University.

She’ll be at least the second official at the police department with Channel 4 ties — longtime anchor Julius Hunter was named to the Board of Police Commissioners in 2006 by Gov. Matt Blunt.

Van Ross start June 2.

Van Ross, right, in action as a television reporter