A Texas Ranger has been selected as the new police chief in Atlanta, Texas.
Jay Womack was appointed by City Manager David Cockrell with a unanimous vote of approval from the City Council.
Twenty applicants from four states vied for the job left vacant after Atlanta'slong-time Police Chief Mike Dupree died last month.
"Womack's résumé stood out as the clear favorite," Cockrell said.
Womack began his career in law enforcement with the Dallas Police Department in 1986. Later, he served with the Texas Department of Public Safety as a trooper and later as a narcotics investigator. After a brief stint with the Drug Enforcement Administration's New York field division, he returned to Texas DPS and served as a Texas Ranger assigned to the Texarkana office since 2003.
Cockrell said, "Chief Womack brings a tremendous amount of experience to Atlanta PD. He is one of the finest, most respected law enforcement officers in the region. We're excited to have him on board and look forward to great things in the future."
Womack has a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master's Peace Officer license issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
