Pflugerville council appoints Willie Richards as police chief after national search

Pflugerville City Council on an evening work session at 6 p.m. voted to appoint Willie Richards as the city’s next police chief after a national search and community stakeholder interviews.

Serena, who presented the recommendation, told the council that Richards brings more than three decades of law enforcement experience, served most recently as assistant police chief in Round Rock, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and holds a master’s degree in criminal-justice leadership from Sam Houston State University. Serena said the selection process included a public meet-and-greet and interviews with a panel of community stakeholders and department staff and highlighted Richards’s community programs and recruitment work.

The nominee addressed the council and described diversity and inclusion as essential to policing. He cited Sir Robert Peel’s principle that “the police are the community and the community are the police” and said representation and inclusion are necessary for legitimate authority. On departmental culture, he summarized three guiding principles — humility, integrity and service — and said those values would guide internal accountability, coaching, mentoring and community engagement.

On operational priorities, the nominee proposed an initial 90-day observation period to assess the department’s structure and policies, a full review of use-of-force and response-to-resistance protocols, and a 100% performance and evidence audit to ensure evidence is cataloged, preserved and presented properly in court. He also said he would work with department staff to develop one-, two- and five-year organizational plans.

Council members asked substantive questions about the nominee’s public-facing role, methods for building trust and the mechanics of evidence audits. Council member Ruiz said he intended to give the new chief 90 days to get “your hands dirty” and evaluate needs, and several council members expressed support for building a working relationship with the new chief.

Mayor (presiding) moved to approve the appointment; Mayor Pro Tem Kimberly Holiday seconded the motion. During roll call, Rogers answered “Nope,” while Ryan voted yes; the mayor voted yes; Mayor Pro Tem Holiday voted yes; Ruiz voted yes; and Weiss voted yes. The motion carried and council members welcomed Richards to Pflugerville City.

The council then entered executive session to discuss personnel matters — specifically, the municipal judge’s performance evaluation — pursuant to Texas Government Code §551.074. The council returned from executive session and reported no action was taken. The work session was then adjourned.

Note on transcript inconsistency: the meeting transcript records the recommended candidate’s name as Willie Richards in Serena’s presentation but the candidate introduces himself as “Kenneth” when speaking. The article reports the recommendation name used by the city (Willie Richards) and notes the transcript’s inconsistent self-identification; the council’s formal action recorded in the meeting was to appoint Willie Richards.