MENU
SEARCHNext year 10 of the nation's most populous cities will have new chiefs — Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, and Tampa.
Former LAPD Chief William Bratton will have more time for private events, after turning over the top-cop job to Charlie Beck. Photo via David Markland (Flickr.com).
Several of the nation's best-known top cops left their big-city police chief positions in 2009 amid a year of budget turmoil, a spike in officer deaths, and shifting law enforcement priorities.
Next year, 10 of the nation's most populous cities will have new chiefs — Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle and Tampa.
The number of departures isn't as unusual as the names of the chiefs leaving, a leading police union official tells POLICE Magazine.
"It's somewhat cyclical," said Jim Pasco, executive director with the national Fraternal Order of Police. "The real high-profile chiefs with a track record of accomplishment seem to be doing so on their own volition and at an appropriate time for them."
Pasco estimated that most big-city chiefs serve for just over two years before leaving.
Chiefs entering jobs in Detroit and Oakland are taking on challenging turnaround assignments in higher crime areas. They'll have a lower bar for success, yet also will be under closer scrutiny.
"Generally, in those cities there's a high level of frustration," Pasco added. "Their [city leaders and community members] expectations are going to be high and they're going to be impatient."
To help officers follow the changes at the top, POLICE Magazine has prepared a handy guide to all the moves. View them on the next two pages.[PAGEBREAK]
Atlanta
In: George Turner (interim)
Why: Pennington had battled with the city's police union, who questioned his absence during several high-profile crimes, including the killing of a 92-year-old during a botched drug raid.
Dallas
Out: David Kunkle
In: Pending
Why: In November, Kunkle announced he would retire by April after more than five years as chief. Kunkle said it was the "right time to go," after 38 years with a department where he started as a patrol officer.
Detroit
Out: James Barren
In:Warren Evans
Why: In August, Evans took over a city that was at the top of the nation in homicides and violent crimes. A former sheriff, he promised to tame the "wild wild West" climate.
Houston
Out:Harold Hurtt
In: Pending
Why: Houston's mayor-elect Annise Parker called for new police leadership in December after criticizing the command staff for a 40 percent budget increase over six years without hiring additional officers.
Los Angeles
Out:William Bratton
In:Charlie Beck
Why: Bratton left in October, following the lifting of the consent decree imposed after the Rampart scandal. He took a job at a private security firm in New York, where he had previously served as police commissioner.[PAGEBREAK]
Miami
Out:John Timoney
In: Miguel Exposito
Why: Timoney resigned in November after the election of Mayor Tomas Regalado. The new mayor campaigned for new leadership, siding with the police union who cited low patrol morale. Timoney had been criticized for using an SUV from a local car dealer.
Oakland
Out: Wayne Tucker
In:Tony Batts
Why: Batts takes over a department reeling from the deaths of four officers ambushed by a parolee, threatened budget cuts, and a technologically outdated crime mapping system. He oversaw a reduction in crime as the chief of the Long Beach (Calif.) Police Department.
San Francisco
Out:Heather Fong
Why: Mayor Gavin Newsom hired Gascon, a former LAPD deputy chief, from the Mesa (Ariz.) Police Department to modernize the department.
Seattle
Out: Gil Kerlikowske
In: Pending
Why: Kerlikowske left in March to become the federal drug czar in the Obama Administration. Mayor-elect Mike McGinn is restarting a stalled search process put on hold by the former mayor's loss in a primary election.
Tampa
Out: Steve Hogue
In:Jane Castor
Why: Hogue retired after six years as chief. Castor became the first female (and openly gay) chief in Tampa, and downplayed her trailblazing.
Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.
Read More →
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.
Read More →
With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.
Read More →
Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.
Read More →
The two-day DroneSense Innovation Summit by Versaterm will bring together public safety and industry experts to define best practices for scaling drone operations.
Read More →
Learn what makes a boot good for police officers as POLICE visits with Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, who explains the features of boots and why each is needed in an LE boot.
Read More →
The application period for the Folds of Honor scholarship program is now open through the end of March. Scholarships support students from early education through postsecondary studies, easing the financial burden for families who have given so much in service to others.
Read More →
With GovX verification now integrated directly into the Team Wendy checkout experience, eligible customers can confirm their status in just a few clicks and have the discount applied automatically.
Read More →
5.11 showcased new apparel and footwear products during SHOT Show 2026, including new color options for the A/T Boa Lite Mid Boot and the Founder’s Jacket.
Read More →