Georgetown police await new chief, continue improving city relationships
By Andrea Leptinsky and Suzanne Haberman
Friday, 12 February 2010
Interim Chief Brent Schacherl, Georgetown Police Department
- Educational background: 2008 graduate of the FBI National AcademyWork background: Lavaca County Precinct 3 Constables Office
- Date hired: April 1996Contact: 930-3515,
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- How was your job before you became interim chief last year?
- It was great. It’s the best job in the world. I was patrol commander right before I made chief. I was commander of the patrol division, and it was a great job because I was back in uniform and I hadn’t been in uniform for a while. I was back in uniform, I was back on the streets with the guys and it was a welcomed change. As you move through the ranks, or you pick up different jobs, it’s always nice to go back to what you started doing.
- What pushed you to accept the job?
- I’ve dedicated my life to public service. I saw a time where the rank and file—or the whole department—needed something new, something they could hold on to and say, ‘OK, we’re starting fresh and things are looking good.’ I knew I had the skills, leadership, management and experience necessary to hold this job and bring about the change the officers needed and wanted. I didn’t do it for me; I did it for the department. They needed someone who could step in with a fresh set of ideas and values. I was eager to step up and help protect this department and rebuild its image and rebuild relationships and do the things necessary for the new chief to come in and be successful.
- How is the process coming along for a new, permanent chief?
- There’s a process in place right now. The city manager is reviewing applications and preparing to do an assessment center, or oral board, for the final applicants that he chooses. There isn’t a set time frame yet. The city was prepared to make a job offer a few months ago to a candidate, but the candidate turned it down. So instead of going through the list and going to No. 2, the city manager wanted the best person for the job and just reposted the listing to look for new applicants.
- How has the department’s relationship improved with the City of Georgetown?
- I think we have a much better working environment with different organizations. Especially the district attorney offices, the prosecutors and the other agencies in the area, such as the city council and the city manager. I think now people sit back and think, ‘Oh, I see some of my suggestions that I’ve made to the chief are being implemented,’ or, ‘My phone calls are getting returned promptly.’ Things like that—that we’ve let slide in the past—we’re attacking head on.
