Chief of Police Recruitment in Pampa, Texas PositionCast™
A servant leadership opportunity in the Texas Panhandle
The City of Pampa, Texas is searching for its next Chief of Police, and this recruitment represents an outstanding leadership opportunity for a public safety professional who values servant leadership, strong communication, community trust, and organizational teamwork. In Episode #73 of The Clear Voice, Clear Career Professionals highlights the Chief of Police recruitment in Pampa through a PositionCast™ conversation with Pampa City Manager Shane Stokes and Assistant City Manager Dustin Miller. The episode gives potential candidates a direct look at the community, the city organization, the police department, and the type of leader Pampa is hoping to attract. This is also a unique episode for Clear Career Professionals because James Groom serves in a dual role as both host of The Clear Voice and recruiter for the Pampa Chief of Police position.
About Pampa, Texas
Pampa is located in the beautiful Texas Panhandle and serves as an important regional community for the eastern half of the Panhandle. With a population of approximately 18,000 residents, Pampa offers the feel of a close-knit hometown while still providing the organizational complexity, public safety responsibility, and community activity expected of a larger regional center. City Manager Shane Stokes described Pampa as a place where people are known by name, not treated as numbers. The community is large enough to support significant services, events, recreation, and public safety operations, but still small enough for city leaders, employees, and residents to know one another on a personal level. That balance is one of the defining features of the opportunity. Pampa is not simply looking for a police administrator. The city is looking for a visible, engaged public safety leader who wants to be part of the community.
A community with a “welcome home” culture
During the episode, Assistant City Manager Dustin Miller described Pampa’s community brand as “welcome home.” That theme reflects how many people experience the city once they spend time there. Pampa is a place where people often return after leaving for school, career opportunities, or military service. Many residents who once thought they would never come back eventually choose to raise their families there. For candidates considering relocation, that matters. This is a community where people can become connected quickly if they are willing to invest in relationships. Pampa offers a strong quality of life, including parks, community events, recreation opportunities, youth activities, downtown revitalization, and access to the outdoor lifestyle of the Texas Panhandle. The city has golf, a water park, a hike and bike trail, a large central park, recreation facilities, a city lake, RV sites, and approximately 42 parks throughout the community. The city also hosts several major community events throughout the year, including a hometown Independence Day celebration, the Top O’ Texas Rodeo, Pampa Fest, Celebration of Lights, and downtown events connected to the city’s revitalization efforts.
Leadership culture at the City of Pampa
The next Chief of Police will join a city organization that places a high value on servant leadership, teamwork, humility, and doing what is right. City Manager Shane Stokes has served the City of Pampa for more than three decades, including as Assistant City Manager and now City Manager. His leadership philosophy is built around faith, service, open communication, and a family-oriented approach to municipal government. The City of Pampa uses a set of organizational “absolutes” that help define expectations for employees and department heads. These include principles such as doing what is right, laughing at work, understanding that prayer is okay, rejecting the idea that something is “not my job,” and following the Golden Rule. Those values are not just words on a card. City leadership expects department heads to work across organizational lines and support one another. Stokes described a city culture where the old hard lines between departments have been intentionally softened so employees respond to needs together as one city team. That is an important part of this recruitment. The next Chief of Police must be able to lead the police department while also integrating fully into the broader city organization.
The Pampa Police Department
The Pampa Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency with approximately 30 sworn personnel. The department also includes dispatch operations and animal services, both of which play important roles in the city’s public safety structure. Pampa’s dispatch operation is highly regarded locally and was repeatedly identified by stakeholders as one of the strengths of the department. The city also operates a significant animal shelter, supported by staff and a strong volunteer group that helps with animal adoption and care. The department has several notable strengths, including a low crime rate, a respected motors program, a strong reputation for training, and a long-standing connection to the Texas Police Chiefs Association accreditation program. City leadership described the department as a “shining star” in the Panhandle. While the department has experienced some recent internal challenges, city leaders were clear that the fundamentals remain strong: laws are being enforced, residents are safe, officers are doing good work, and the organization has the foundation needed for the right leader to move it forward.
A strong motors program and visible community policing
One of the most frequently mentioned strengths of the Pampa Police Department is its motors program. The motors unit has become one of the department’s most visible and appreciated community-facing programs. Motor officers participate in events, interact with children, assist with bicycle rodeos, escort funerals, and maintain a strong presence throughout the community. City leadership wants the next Chief of Police to value that program and help strengthen it. The motors unit is not just about traffic enforcement. In Pampa, it is a connection point between the police department and the public. That kind of visible community policing is central to what the city wants in its next chief.
The leadership profile Pampa is seeking
Pampa is looking for a Chief of Police who leads with humility, communicates well, supports officers, and remains accessible to employees and the public. City Manager Shane Stokes said he is looking for a servant leader, a good communicator, and someone who is not afraid to get involved in the work of the department. He wants a chief who rides along with officers, knows the people in the organization, and is not hidden behind a closed door. The next chief should be approachable, visible, and present. This is not a role for someone who wants to lead from a pedestal. The City of Pampa wants a police chief who will be in the department, in the community, and in the work. Assistant City Manager Dustin Miller reinforced that servant leadership is a core expectation in Pampa. The police department’s motto, “With a warrior’s courage and a servant’s heart,” reflects the type of leadership and service the city expects from its public safety team.
Internal leadership and department culture
The next Chief of Police will need to focus on internal trust, communication, and organizational alignment. City leaders were candid that the police department has experienced some recent turmoil. However, they also made clear that the issues are manageable and that many of them are already settling down. The city is looking for a leader who can enter the organization with maturity, listen carefully, repair relationships where needed, and help the department move forward together. This is where humility will matter. The right candidate will not need to come in and prove how strong they are by being loud or forceful. Instead, Pampa needs a leader who earns trust, builds credibility, supports good employees, sets clear expectations, and creates stability through consistent leadership.
External relationships and regional cooperation
The next Pampa Chief of Police will also need to maintain and strengthen important relationships with external public safety partners. Because Pampa is the county seat, the relationship between the Pampa Police Department and the Gray County Sheriff’s Office is especially important. The two agencies serve the same community, interact often, and must be able to work together effectively. Other important partners include the Texas Department of Public Safety, local EMS, the fire department, volunteer fire services, emergency management, and Pampa Independent School District. The city also has an SRO program and works closely with the school district on safety-related initiatives. Those school relationships will be an important part of the new chief’s work. Assistant City Manager Dustin Miller described the way agencies come together during emergency operations, including wildfires, severe weather events, and other major incidents. During those moments, ego disappears and the focus becomes one team, one city, one county, and one mission. The next chief must be able to support that culture of cooperation.
A city that invests in public safety
The City of Pampa is committed to supporting its police department with resources, equipment, training, and competitive compensation. City Manager Shane Stokes noted that the city evaluates compensation regularly and is committed to fair and competitive salaries. He also emphasized the city’s investment in police operations, including equipment and training opportunities. The police department has access to significant training resources, including in-house instructors and a training center that draws law enforcement personnel from outside the community. Pampa routinely hosts training for officers from other areas, which reflects the department’s broader regional role. The city’s police budget is nearly $5 million within an overall city budget of approximately $30 million. That level of investment demonstrates the importance of public safety to Pampa’s leadership and community.
Why this Chief of Police opportunity matters
The Pampa Chief of Police recruitment is an opportunity for the right law enforcement executive to step into a department with strong bones, meaningful community support, and clear backing from city leadership. This is not a broken department. It is a department ready for its next chapter. The city needs a chief who can build trust internally, strengthen external partnerships, remain highly visible in the community, support officers, and lead with both courage and humility. For a candidate who wants to be part of a hardworking, pro-law enforcement community in the Texas Panhandle, Pampa offers a compelling opportunity.
Who should consider applying?
This role may be a strong fit for a law enforcement leader who:
Values servant leadership and open communication.
Believes police chiefs should be visible, accessible, and connected to employees.
Understands the importance of community policing.
Can build trust inside the department and across the community.
Is comfortable working closely with city management, elected officials, and regional partners.
Appreciates small-city relationships with regional public safety responsibility.
Wants to live in a community where public service, family, faith, and quality of life still matter.
The next Chief of Police will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a department that is already respected and in a community that wants the right leader to succeed.
Learn more about the Pampa Chief of Police recruitment
Candidates interested in the Chief of Police position in Pampa, Texas are encouraged to review the full recruitment information through Clear Career Professionals. Clear Career Professionals is committed to keeping candidates informed throughout the process. Applicants can expect regular communication, clear updates, and a recruitment process built around respect for both the community and the candidates who step forward to serve.
To learn more about the Pampa, Texas Chief of Police recruitment, visit:
https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/pampa-texas-chief-of-police-job-posting
About The Clear Voice Podcast
The Clear Voice is a dedicated platform for transparency and expert led dialogue within the professional and public sectors. The show serves as a vital resource for leaders who want to move past surface level discussions and dive into the real world mechanics of governance, management, and organizational growth. James Groom is the host of the program. As the Vice President of Clear Career Professionals and a retired Police Chief, James brings a unique, high stakes perspective to every conversation. His background in public service and executive leadership allows him to extract practical, actionable insights from industry experts that help modern organizations function with total clarity.
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About Clear Career Professionals
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