Sanger Police Chief resigns
Sanger Police Chief Waylan Rhodes resigned last Friday without notice, citing difficulties with the department.
Rhodes told the Denton Record-Chronicle Saturday morning he intended for the Sanger Police Department to be his last place of employment, but heading the department was unusually difficult.
“It’s been anything but a good experience,” Rhodes said. “ ... This was my last hurrah. It’s disheartening that it turned out to be a challenge from the get-go.”
He insinuated some personnel seemed resistant to administrative and cultural changes he wanted to make for the better, he said, and would resign from the department even though he hadn’t written them up. Some officers left for higher paying positions at larger police departments or sheriff’s offices. And, some left because of Rhodes’ leadship style.
Rhodes said he has accepted a few interim police chief opportunities. He will be moving over the weekend to the Austin area, where he said he has family living.
The city of Sanger did not have a comment as of Wednesday morning before the Sanger News press deadline.
Assistant Chief of Police Jonathan Perkins retired last month after 20 years on the force. He was also the interim chief for almost a year-and-a-half before Rhodes was hired.
On November 30, 2021 the City of Sanger announced Rhodes as their new Chief of Police. Rhodes was chosen from a pool of 38 qualified applicants from across the nation in a search for a successor to 36-year Sanger Police Veteran, Chief Curtis Amyx.
Rhodes brought more than 35 years of community-based law enforcement. Rhodes attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA, where he studied Criminal Justice. He holds certifications from the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, FBI National Academy, FBI Command College, and TPCAF Executive Leadership.
Rhodes most recently served as the Interim Chief for the City of Beeville. Prior experience includes Chief of Police for Silsbee, TX, and Chief of Police in Little Elm, Texas.
Rhodes’ official start date with the City was Monday, January 3, 2022.
Assistant Sanger Police Chief Jonathan Perkins, Sheri Reynolds (department administrator) and former Police Chief Curtis Amyx at Perkins retirement reception, recently.