New Braunfels police chief announces retirement

After serving the New Braunfels Police Department for 10 years, Police Chief Tom Wibert announced he will be retiring from the force effective Oct. 3.

“Tom’s greatest asset as Police Chief is that he cares. He cares about this community, he cares about the organization, and he cares about his staff,” City Manager Robert Camareno said in a press release. “He is leaving the department better from his leadership.”

A third-generation police officer, Wibert previously served with the East Lansing Police Department in East Lansing, Michigan, for 25 years, including five years as chief of police, according to city information.

During his time with the NBPD, Wibert saw the force grow from 100 officers to 140 officers, established a victim’s advocacy team, a mental health unit, a police Explorer troop and a chaplain unit, the release states.

Wibert also served as a president of the New Braunfels Kiwanis Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Comal County, according to the release.

The city is in the process of appointing an interim police chief while searching for a permanent replacement. A city representative said right now there is not a set timeline of events regarding the replacement process, nor is the department divulging who an interim replacement candidate might be.