When Chief Jessica Robledo took over the Pflugerville Police Department on Feb. 14, officers who had been under the leadership of former Chief Chuck Hooker since 2004 had to adjust to some changes in the first 90 days.

Robledo, with more than 28 years in law enforcement, including 13 in executive leadership with the Austin Police Department, said she took some time to evaluate the PPD before making adjustments, but once she started, she wanted to get the department moving in the right direction as fast as she could.

“I don’t wait on stuff,” she said. “So when I see things that need to be changed, I’ll change them.”

Among the biggest changes, Robledo has created an open atmosphere so any officer can approach high-ranking leaders with suggestions or feedback.

Robledo said it is important for her officers to know she is available and approachable.

She even works out with six of the newest members of the department twice a week at Lake Pflugerville in an effort to show them she is there for them.

“They are going to remember that it is easy to approach me and ask for help when they need it," she said.

The chief also hopes this open atmosphere will yield a broader discussion from officers of how to make the department even more effective.

Robledo admits she does not have all the answers and wants others to help her find them.

“I want to hear my officers' ideas—I don’t think I’m the smartest person in the room; I know I’m not,” she said.

One of the officer ideas to already be implemented  was the redesign of the department’s badges and patrol vehicle designs.

The department unveiled the new look in late March at a Pflugerville City Council meeting.

The updated badges feature each individual officer’s employee number to promote transparency within the city.

In addition, Robledo made some tweaks to the department’s vision and mission statement to further lay out what she sees as the future of PPD.

The new vision statement is, “To lead with a servant heart, embrace our diverse community and partnerships, and become one!” Robledo said it should inspire all of her officers to go above and beyond in Pflugerville.

Commander Jason Smith, who has been with the department for more than 20 years, said there is a different energy with Robledo in charge.

He said there is an emphasis on inclusion that makes officers trust her and feel comfortable in the midst of a changing leadership.

“She treats everyone with integrity, whether you are the victim or the suspect,” Smith said. “You haven’t seen this type of excitement since I’ve been here on all levels.”

Even though Robledo is new to Pflugerville in this context, she said she feels she is just returning home.

In fact, when she was just starting out with the APD, Robledo purchased her first home in Pflugerville. She said her taking this job feels like coming full circle.

“I’m a small-town girl,” she said. “Pflugerville is so different from Austin and I can’t put my finger on it, but I love it.”