Bittersweet departure: Victoria police chief moving on

Victoria Advocate
Tamara Diaz | tdiaz@vicad.com
November 29, 2022

Victoria Police Chief Roberto Arredondo Jr. has announced he will leave Victoria and begin a new job as police chief of Carrollton, according to a news release issued Tuesday.

Arredondo’s final day as the head of the department will be Dec. 30. He has been in the position since Nov. 30, 2020.

During his time with the city, Arredondo improved the department’s technology and data resources, according to the news release. He also supported the city manager’s compensation efforts to attract and retain Victoria’s workforce and, more recently, played a large role in crime reduction efforts.

“It’s bittersweet. I hired him two years ago. I’m sad to see him go because he was a great asset to our team,” City Manager Jesús Garza said Tuesday afternoon. “He really advanced modern policing tactics in our department and helped improve the relationship with the community. At the same time, I’m excited for him.”

Garza said the hiring process for a replacement began this week and could take three to five months.

“I expect to appoint a new police chief no later than April,” Garza said. “It could happen sooner. My preference would be for it to be sooner, but we also want to follow a good process and make the right decision.”

Garza said it is “too early to discern whether one of the deputy chiefs of police will be considered for the position.”

The department has two deputy police chiefs, First Deputy Police Chief Mark Jameson and Deputy Police Chief Charles Young.

“None of what we’ve accomplished could have been done without the support of Victoria’s city council, city management, and community,” Arredondo said. “This community has been tremendous.”

Under Arredondo’s leadership, intelligence-based crime reduction was a key focus, according to the release. This data-driven approach contributed to a 30% violent crime reduction compared to last year. He also has been instrumental in supporting the department’s increased community outreach efforts as well as the recruitment of local talent.

“I’m grateful for Chief Arredondo’s leadership over the last two years,” Garza said. “We have made great strides in improving our police department, and I look forward to working with the next chief on a slew of efforts, including the new $30-million Public Safety Headquarter building currently under design.”

Garza will soon coordinate with an outside recruitment firm to help with the city’s search for Arredondo’s replacement. Interim plans will be announced soon. A permanent police chief is expected to be announced in the spring. Interim plans will be announced in the near future.