For the past ten years, Southlake Police Chief James Brandon has led the department first as an assistant chief and now as Chief.

As far back as he can remember, Brandon only ever wanted to be a cop. He started his path to Southlake with the Corpus Christi Police Department.

"I can remember having conversations where I would have told you I will never be a chief. I don't have that desire," Brandon stated. "But every time there was an opening in the level above me, I thought, 'Well, I think I can do that, and I think I can do a good job, and I don't want to let somebody else do it because maybe they don't do a good job.' I always joke that I stumbled a lot; I just fall upwards."

Since 2015, when he was named Chief of Police, Brandon has worked to create a department that adheres to the highest standard of accreditation through the Center for Law Enforcement Accreditation. That, coupled with an award-winning School Resource Officer program and continuous efforts to maintain high morale and performance amongst his staff, has made a busy ten years for the Chief.

But then, in 2020, Brandon got the news that changed his life at home and on the job.

Listen to this Southlake Story to hear more.