Tyler Police Chief Named to State Board

AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott has named Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board. The governor made the announcement late Wednesday afternoon. Swindle is a 33 year veteran of the Tyler Police Department and has served as the Chief of Police since 2000. As Chief of Police, he commands a department comprised of 245 employees (194 sworn officers) and oversees an annual operating budget of $26 million dollars.

In addition to serving as Police Chief, Swindle serves as Managing Director of Public Safety for the City of Tyler. This includes overseeing Code Enforcement, Animal Services and Neighborhood Services Departments. Swindle is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), FBI National Academy Associates of Texas, Texas Police Chiefs Association, Texas Police Association, Smith County Peace Officers Association, East Texas Peace Officers Association and East Texas Violent Crimes Task Force. He has held leadership roles as past president of the Texas FBI National Academy Associates and past vice-president of the East Texas Peace Officers Association. He received a gubernatorial appointment to serve as Commissioner for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education from 2002 – 2009.

Swindle is very involved in the community as president of the Tyler Sister Cities, president of Tyler Police Foundation, board member of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County, board member of East Texas Crisis Center, member of the Tyler Junior College Criminal Justice Advisory Board and ex-officio board member of the Tyler Chamber of Commerce. He has served as the administrative board chairman of the Marvin United Methodist Church and on boards for the All Saints Episcopal School and UT Tyler Alumni Association.

Swindle earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Tyler. He also holds a Master Peace Officer certification from the State of Texas. Swindle is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) National Academy and the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute Command College.

In making the announcement yesterday, the Governor also said he was reappointing Laura Ryan as chairman of the board and naming Guillermo “Memo” Trevino to the panel.