HARRISON, Ark.—The new police chief may be coming to Harrison from Texas, but he has strong Arkansas ties.

The selection of Robert Patrick Murphy of North Richland Hills, Texas, as the new chief of police was announced Monday by Mayor Pat Moles.

Murphy, a captain with the North Richland Hills Police Department, was one of 16 candidates for the position vacated when Lyle Smith resigned in early June. Moles said Murphy’s communication skills were part of the reason he chose Murphy, in addition to the community involvement programs Murphy began with the Texas department.

North Richland Hills is a city of about 62,000 people in Tarrant County, in the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Murphy said his family has ties to the Harrison community.

He said his wife of 25 years, Sharon Crow Murphy, grew up in Harrison and moved to the Dallas area in 1982, where they met. They married the following year and have spent almost every Christmas, as well as other visits, in Harrison.

He said they have various other family members in the area as well, including his wife’s sister, Boone County Assessor Karen Hardesty.

The job came open at a most opportune time for the Murphy family, he said.

Murphy said September marks his 30th year with the North Richland Hills department. He was planning to retire this year and they were planning a move to Arkansas at that time.

“My intention all along was to move to Harrison,” Murphy told the Daily Times. “This is a real blessing.”

Moles said the choice was difficult to make because there were several good applicants.

“It’s been a long, hard process,” Moles said.

Moles said Murphy has worked in all sections of the department in Texas, so he understands the duties of a police chief.

In addition, Moles said Murphy is a good communicator and has started community involvement programs at North Richland Hills, something he hopes to see happen in Harrison by getting officers more involved with the citizens.

“I think once you get to know Pat Murphy, you’ll like him,” Moles said.

Murphy said he will be in the area next Tuesday for a Harrison City Council meeting, and Moles said he plans to introduce Murphy to other police and community leaders at the time.

“I can’t wait to meet as many people as I can,” Murphy said.