Meet The New Pearland Chief Of Police[via www.pearlandtx.gov]City Manager Clay Pearson has officially appointed Johnny Spires, a law enforcement executive with more than 27 years of experience, to the position of police chief for the City of Pearland. A longtime member of the City of Pearland staff, Spires has served as a police officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Assistant Chief of Police and will step into his new role June 1, upon the retirement of Chief J.C. Doyle.

“We’ve known about Johnny’s strengths for some time. In his tenure as Assistant Chief of Police, he has implemented a system which integrated Computer Aided Dispatch and Jail and Records Management in the Police Department, providing residents with access to real-time data regarding incidents and incarcerated individuals. He also began a program to ensure the certification of all Pearland Police Officers as Mental Health Officers to meet the needs of our ever-changing City. It is that kind of forward thinking that will further strengthen our police/community ties and ensure the continued safety of residents,” said Clay Pearson, City Manager. As Police Chief, Spires will be responsible for the department's $25.5 million budget, 17 divisions and more than 200 City employees in various areas of the police department some of which include, patrol, traffic, criminal investigations, K-9, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, school resource, internal affairs, training, telecommunications, animal services, jail operations, records, community outreach, bike patrol, SWAT and honor guard.

He will also spearhead the implementation of the Berkshire Study which provides recommendations for the Department to address the realities of Pearland’s expanding geography and police staffing and utilization. The study focuses on improvements to operational effectiveness and efficiency through retooling staffing and assessing the differing policing needs of areas of Pearland.

Spires has a Master Peace Officer Certification, Instructor Proficiency and SWAT Crime Prevention Inspector Certifications from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. He is a member of the International Chief of Police Association, International City/County Management Association, Southeast Texas Chief Police Association, Texas Chief of Police Association, Texas Tactical Police Officers Association and a lifetime member of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. In addition to his work experience, Spires is a member of the Lion’s Club of Pearland and a mentor in the Pearland ISD RISE Mentoring Program.

Spires will build on the success of City of Pearland Police Chief J.C. Doyle, who will retire effective May 31. “During his tenure, Chief Doyle set the very high bar for community policing and worked through unprecedented growth to create a police force that brought us some of the lowest crime rates in recent years. Beyond these accomplishments, Chief Doyle is a person of high integrity, character and an unrelenting resolve to serve the citizens of Pearland in the most professional manner possible. It’s been a pleasure to work with Chief Doyle. We will miss his leadership, but his legacy continues with the expert staff he’s developed,” said Pearson.