During a City Council meeting on Tuesday, the Terrell City Council unanimously approved Terrell City Manager Mike Sims' recommendation to appoint Arley Sansom as Police Chief and Director of Animal Control. Sansom, a 37-year veteran of the department, had been serving as the Interim Police Chief following the retirement of Police Chief Ken McKeown.
"I want to thank the many applicants who competed for this position. It is a credit to the citizens of Terrell and our community that this position attracted so many qualified individuals who were interested in leading our distinguished force and making Terrell their home," said Terrell City Manager Mike Sims. "I also want to give credit to Mayor Carmona and the other members of our Council for their continued support of our Police and for making budget, fleet, and other P.D. support decisions that enable the Terrell Police Department team to be successful."
The nationwide search for a new police chief attracted 30 applicants from six states. A panel including Sims, former Dallas Police Chief David Brown, Council members, Terrell Police Officer's Association representatives, and City Administration conducted interviews, narrowing the candidates to four finalists.
Sansom, a 2019 graduate of the FBI National Academy, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M Commerce in 2021.
"I look forward to the opportunity to continue serving the citizens of Terrell in this new role. The success of any police department is contingent upon the professionalism, training, and support of its staff. I am committed to providing leadership to our entire TPD force, including civilian and sworn, as well as the Department of Animal Control, as we work collectively to ensure we maintain our reputation as a highly respected law enforcement agency," said Chief Sansom.
