CITY MANAGER TERRY ROBERTS ANNOUNCES NEW BRENHAM POLICE CHIEF

  

A 26 year veteran of the Pasadena Police Department will be Brenham’s new Chief of Police.

Craig Goodman, serving the last nine years as a command officer with Pasadena PD, was selected from a field of 72 candidates this week by City Manager Terry Roberts.

After notifying the City Council and the personnel in the Brenham Police Department,

Roberts announced the appointment today. “The police chief serves a critical leadership role that provides direction to an agency responsible for the safety and security of the citizens of our community,” Roberts said.

Chief-elect Goodman, 53, will be sworn in at the September 17th Council meeting and begin his service with the City of Brenham on September 21st.

“I am grateful and honored to have the opportunity to lead the Brenham Police Department and to continue the department’s legacy of service to the citizens of Brenham,” Chief Goodman said.

“My driving focus will be to provide the type of leadership that will foster an open and honest working environment with my colleagues and one that will build a trusting relationship with the community. I am very much looking forward to working collaboratively with the women and men of the department to effectively serve the citizens of Brenham,” the new Chief added.

Goodman began his law enforcement career with the Pasadena Police Department in 1989. He has been a command officer with this Houston suburb since 2006 currently heading the Proactive Investigations Unit within the Criminal Investigations Division.

The Proactive Investigations Unit oversees narcotics investigations and the gang task Force unit.

Brenham’s new Chief has a breadth of experience in several different assignments throughout his years with Pasadena PD. In addition to heading proactive investigations, he has led both criminal investigations as well as served as a commander of the evening and night shift patrols. Goodman has also served as a commander in the personnel and training division as well as ID and records.

The three announced finalists were all solid prospects to head the Brenham Police Department, the City Manager said. “Chief-elect Goodman rose to the top because he demonstrated a great track record of success. His leadership skills and depth of understand of the role of leading a public safety organization are very strong and were clearly evident during the selection process,” Roberts continued.

“The feedback we got from references was extremely positive including Goodman’s Chief Michael Thaler. Chief Thaler has high regard for Brenham’s new Chief and believes he will be successful,” Roberts reported. Chief Thaler is a nephew of retired Brenham Assistant Police Chief Raymond Thaler. Pasadena PD is a department with 272 sworn personnel including 10 command officers with the rank of lieutenant including Goodman.

“From the outset, my goal has been much more than just finding a good fit with me personally although that was important,” Roberts stated. “My overriding goal has been to select someone I felt would be a great fit for the Department, the City organization and the community as a whole. Craig became my clear number one choice and was also the consensus top candidate of the interview panel that helped me narrow the field,” Roberts reported.

The City Manager also expressed appreciation for the input he received from the interview board. That board included Acting Chief Dant Lange, Fire Chief Ricky Boeker, Assistant City Manager-General Government Rex Phelps, Bryan Police Chief Erik Buske and Human Resources Manager Susan Nienstedt.

In addition to the traditional process of reviewing resumes and interviewing a number of the top candidates, the City added a unique exercise for the four finalists for the position. Before final interviews with the City Manager, the four finalists came together for a panel discussion of current events facing law enforcement today. The four were given the topics as they arrived and offered comments and solutions to current issues.

“At every phase in the hiring process Chief-elect Goodman came prepared. He showed his command of the issues. He was both knowledgeable and personable. The content and delivery of his answers to the questions convinced me he was the right choice,” Roberts concluded.

Goodman is a 1986 graduate of Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He holds a master of science in criminal justice from the University of Houston and is a 2008 graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia.