The City of Victoria has narrowed down its search for a new police chief to four finalists.
“Working closely with our executive recruitment firm, Mosaic Public Partners, we were able to attract an outstanding pool of candidates,” City Manager Jesús A. Garza said. “The police chief fills an important and highly visible role in our community, and I am looking forward to hiring a candidate who will protect our community and foster positive relationships with personnel, residents and our community stakeholders.”
About the candidates
Thedrick Andres has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, serving with the Louisiana State Penitentiary, New Orleans Police Department, Arlington Police Department and Henderson Police Department in every role from patrol officer to chief of police. In 2019, he was appointed as the chief of police for the Henderson Police Department. He served HPD with distinction for five years until he retired from the agency in February 2023. Andres holds a master’s degree in criminal justice and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and he is also a graduate of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Leadership Development Program, The Senior Management Institute of Policing and the 54th School of Executive Leadership at the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration. He is a member of the Police Executive Research Forum and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Eric Blanchard began his law enforcement career in 2000 after graduating the Del Mar Police Academy at the top of his class. He has worked for the Mathis Police Department, the Portland Police Department and the Sinton Police Department, and he was hired as chief of the Aransas Pass Police Department in 2012. Blanchard is an experienced patrolman, investigator and police administrator. Honors that he has earned include Employee of the Year, Outstanding Citizen of the Community, the Outstanding Public Service Achievement Award, the Key to the City Award for efforts during Hurricane Harvey, the Pillar of the Community Award and the Service Community Commitment Award. Chief Blanchard holds an associate degree from Del Mar College, a bachelor’s degree from Tarleton State University in criminal justice administration and a master’s degree in criminal justice.
Dr. Jonathan B. Flores has served as the City of Alton police chief since 2018, and he also serves as an assistant city manager for the City of Alton. Flores started his law enforcement career in 2001 as an emergency communications specialist for the City of McAllen. In 2005 he attended the local regional police academy, and upon graduation, he began his sworn law enforcement career for the City of San Juan. He has also served with the McAllen ISD Police Department and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. Flores earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from the University of Phoenix in 2017, his Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2018 and his doctorate in education leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2021. He has several publications on law enforcement leadership and was recently inducted into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame for Distinguished Service.
Chuck Young has served as a Victoria Police Department deputy police chief since 2021. He joined the Dallas Police Department in 1980, where he rose to the rank of major before retiring to the private sector in 2019. He has earned the Officer of the Year award, the Meritorious Conduct Award for valor, six Police Commendation Awards for exemplary service, five Life Saving Awards, ten Certificates of Merit for job performance, three Community Service Awards and more than 250 additional commendations. He served as the senior security manager for the Dallas Symphony Association before returning to law enforcement in Victoria. Young, who graduated summa cum laude in 2018, earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Midwestern State University and graduated from the 2014 Caruth Police Institute Executive Leadership Series VII. He holds a Master Peace Officers license and will attend the Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston in July 2023.
What’s next
Next week, the finalists will tour the community and meet with City officials and stakeholders.
A sole finalist for the position is expected to be announced in April.
To learn more about the Victoria Police Department, visit www.victoriatx.gov/police.