© 2024 88.9 KETR
Public Radio for Northeast Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Commerce City Manager: Police Chief Hire Expected Soon

Commerce City Manager Darrek Farrell said that the city could have a new Chief of Police as early as this week.

Since the resignation of Kerry Crews in June, Jason Rector has served as interim chief. Rector is one of four finalists for the permanent position. Other candidates are Conny Clay of Choctaw, Okla.; Scott Heagney of Rockwall; and Scott Peters of Waxahachie.

“I hope – after reviewing all the comments and feedback – we’ll be able to make an offer early next week,” Farrell said. “From there, it’s negotiating and it’s on the candidate’s time frame.”

The four applicants met with the public on the evening of March 1 as part of an informal meet-and-greet hosted by the city at the municipal building. Farrell said that he’s considering feedback provided at the event, as well as observations made by the city council and others. However, the selection of the new police chief is the sole responsibility of the city manager.

“By city charter, the decision is the city manager’s alone,” Farrell said. “The council is generally not allowed to insert themselves in those things, but by charter, I’m allowed to ask for their advice and input. They’ve always been really good about helping … In this particular case, every member of the council has been involved.”

Rector, a Commerce native, has been a patrol lieutenant for the Commerce Police Department for more than five years. Rector previously served for the Lavon Police Department from 1997 to 2013, and was Chief of Police for his last 10 years in Lavon.

Clay served as Chief of Police in Choctaw from 2011 to 2017. Before that, Clay also worked for the Oklahoma Horse Racing and Lottery Commission and the City of Shawnee Police Department.

Heagney has been a federal officer for the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms since 2001. Heagney served in Rochester, N.Y., before moving to the ATF’s Dallas-based division in 2016. Heagney has also worked for the Franklin, Mass., Police Department.

Peters has most recently served as Chief of Police and later as Executive Director of Student Safety and Internal Compliance for the Dallas County Schools from 2015 to the present. Peters has also been police chief in Coppell and in Wortham, where Peters served as Chief of Police.

Mark Haslett has served at KETR since 2013. Since then, the station's news operation has enjoyed an increase in listener engagement and audience metrics, as well recognition in the Texas AP Broadcasters awards.