Wendell Mitchell, who has 29 years of law enforcement experience, has served as Flower Mound's assistant police chief since 2011.
The new chief will succeed Chief Andy Kancel, who retired in November after 34 years in law enforcement and 10 years as Flower Mound’s chief. Kancel is staying on as interim chief throughout the hiring and transition period, according to a town news release.
Zooming in
The other candidates are:
- Kimberly Sylvester, who has 26 years of law enforcement experience and has served as the chief of police for the Richland Hills Police Department since 2018
- Doug Shoemaker, who has over 33 years in public safety and policing experience, and has served as the Denton Police Department's police chief since 2022
- Floyd Mitchell, who has 34 years of policing and military service, including as the Lubbock Police Department's police chief from 2019-23 and the Temple Police Department's police chief from 2015-19
- David Coulon, a criminal justice executive with 30 years in policing. He has served as The Colony's police chief since 2014.
All five candidates will attend a meet-and-greet with the public from 6-7 p.m. March 19 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Flower Mound, according to the town release. Residents and community stakeholders are invited to speak with the candidates and provide feedback to town leaders via comment cards.
The finalists were selected after a nationwide search led by SGR, a Texas-based executive recruitment firm. The search yielded 44 applicants from 13 states, and candidates were vetted through a comprehensive process. The search committee—led by Town Manager James Childers and consisting of town staff—chose the five finalists.
What they're saying
“After an extensive nationwide search and application review process, I’m excited to welcome these five finalists to Flower Mound for on-site interviews and a public reception,” Childers said in the release. “These are strong candidates with impressive backgrounds and wide-ranging law enforcement experience. Holding a public reception to allow our residents and business owners an opportunity to interact with these finalists will be crucial in helping us to further narrow down the field and select the best fit for our community.”
The position is anticipated to be filled by late spring. Childers will hire the new chief, said Melissa Demmitt, communications director for the town of Flower Mound.
