Henderson City Manager Bob Murnane announced Friday that Deputy Chief LaTesha Watson of the Arlington, Texas Police Department has been selected as Henderson’s new police chief, subject to ratification by the mayor and city council.
No official start date for Watson has been announced. The mayor and city council will be asked to ratify Watson’s selection at an upcoming City Council meeting before she can assume the official title of police chief.
Watson began her law enforcement career in 1994 with the Hutchins Police Department in Hutchins, Texas and worked for the Lewisville Police Department in Lewisville, Texas before joining the Arlington, Texas Police Department in 2002. She was named deputy chief in 2014, becoming the youngest individual to hold that position in the history of the Arlington Police Department.
In addition to her law enforcement experience, Watson has a doctorate in management and organizational leadership, a master of science in criminology and a bachelor of science in criminal justice.
The search for the Henderson Police Chief was launched in June of this year and nearly 90 applicants were screened for the position.
ORIGINAL STORY
Two finalists have been named for the position of Henderson police chief.
Deputy Chief LaTesha Watson began her law enforcement career in 1994 and has been with the Arlington, Texas Police Department since 2002. She was named deputy chief in 2014.
Henderson Acting Chief Todd Peters began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the Henderson Police Department and was promoted to deputy chief in 2012. He was named as acting police chief in May of this year.
The decision regarding which finalist is offered the job of Henderson police chief will be made by the city manager sometime in the near future. The mayor and City Council will then be asked to ratify the city manager’s choice before the individual selected assumes the role of chief.
The search for the Henderson Police Chief was launched in June of this year after Police Chief Patrick Moers and Deputy Chief Bobby Long voluntarily left their positions. Moers had been put under an internal investigation and removed from his post in mid-May.
