Red Oak swears in new police chief with 25 years’ experience

The Red Oak City Council on Tuesday announced the appointment and administered the oath of office to Adrien Te Tarina as the city’s new police chief.

City leaders said Te Tarina brings roughly 25 years of law-enforcement experience, prior military service and a background spanning patrol operations, investigations, tactical response, departmental leadership and community-focused policing. According to the council’s remarks, he most recently served as assistant chief of police in Duncanville, where he supervised roughly 65 sworn officers and 15 professional staff and led long-range strategic planning and budgeting efforts.

Te Tarina, speaking briefly after his introduction, said he was “honored and humbled to be selected as chief of police for the city of Red Oak Police Department” and looks forward to working with city staff and residents to build a department “rooted in fairness, accountability, and transparency.” The council noted colleagues from Duncanville and family were present to support him.

The council held an oath-of-office ceremony during which Te Tarina repeated the statutory oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this state.”

What matters: The appointment fills an interim leadership role after a search for a permanent chief. Council members framed the hire as part of Red Oak’s emphasis on building trust between police and the community and maintaining public safety.

Next steps: City officials said Te Tarina will assume full duties immediately and work with city leadership, staff and the community on priorities including training, policies and long-range strategy.