By John Dobberstein, Editor
A suburban police chief from Texas and former Norman officer has been tapped to be the 10th chief in the history of the Broken Arrow Police Department.
Broken Arrow City Manager Michael Spurgeon recently announced Lance Arnold as the new BAPD chief. Arnold has been chief of the Weatherford Police Department since 2027 and also served the citizens of Weatherford as the Director of Public Safety and Assistant City Manager.
Prior to his time in Weatherford, Arnold served for 20 years with the Norman Police Department. Arnold will replace Brandon Berryhill, who retired this year after a long career with BAPD.
In a statement, Arnold said he is, “deeply honored and privileged to have the opportunity to serve this exceptional community and work alongside the most talented and dedicated professionals in Oklahoma. I cannot wait to begin contributing in ways to build upon an already thriving community and police department.”
The city conducted a nationwide search for chief, “because our citizens’ high expectation of feeling safe in our city needs to be met, and therefore, required the best person to lead Broken Arrow Police Department,” said Spurgeon.
“This decision was not easy as there were many highly qualified individuals who wanted the chance to live in Broken Arrow to lead one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the country.
“There is no doubt that Chief Arnold, with his broad experience, including two decades of wearing the badge in Oklahoma, effective communication skills, and demonstrated approach of team above self is the absolute right person to lead BAPD’s responsibilities of ensuring public safety is the top priority in Broken Arrow.”
Weatherford, a city 29 miles west of Fort Worth, has grown rapidly since the 1990s and now has an estimated 38,000 residents.
In a December 14 post, the department praised Arnold for his contributions during his seven years as chief according to CBS News Texas.
“Chief Arnold has always encouraged us to strive for greatness, even if it means seeking opportunities elsewhere to achieve our goals,” the post said. “With this in mind, we can only be happy for him as he accepts this new challenge.”
According to the Facebook post, Arnold improved every aspect of the Weatherford Police Department during his tenure. He served as the project manager for the design and construction of the state-of-the-art Public Safety Building, which was completed in October 2022.
Under his leadership, the department achieved re-accreditation under the Texas Law Enforcement Best Practices Accreditation Program and earned recognition from the International Association of Chiefs of Police for its comprehensive member wellness program, which Arnold implemented after recognizing the toll stress can take on officers’ mental and physical health.
He also oversaw the department’s expansion, growing its ranks from 58 to 69 officers and increasing the total number of employees to 95.
He successfully advocated for extra resources — including the drone program and K9 Jack — and launched the Community Services Division, with his efforts resulting in a noticeable reduction in crime as the city experienced rapid growth.
“But Chief’s care extended far beyond our officers,” the post said. “He was the biggest champion for the unsung heroes behind the scenes-the call takers, the support staff, the ones who keep the gears turning.”
Arnold will inherit a police department in Broken Arrow that is well respected but was hit hard this year with several officers retiring, resigning or being fired for alleged disciplinary issues.
Broken Arrow’s police force is slightly larger than Weatherford’s with more than 100 officers, and Broken Arrow’s population of 120,000 is spread out over 63 square miles. Much like Weatherford, Broken Arrow is continuing to grow — especially to the south and east.
“Broken Arrow is recognized as one of the safest cities in the U.S., not only by our own citizens but by others across the country,” said Mayor Debra Wimpee in a statement.
“Chief Arnold’s record of reducing crime through professional development, innovative policing, and engaging community outreach will enhance the strong foundation set in place by the amazing men and women of the Broken Arrow Police Department.”
Arnold expressed gratitude for his time in Weatherford in a December 12 Facebook post, according to CBS News Texas.
“I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to serve this remarkable community, and it has been an honor to work alongside our talented and dedicated members,” Arnold said. “This community will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will deeply cherish the relationships formed.”
Arnold has served on the Curriculum Review Board for the Oklahoma Council for Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) and as the Assistant State Coordinator for the Oklahoma Drug Evaluation and Classification Program.
Additionally, Arnold commanded the Norman Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics team and received the Officer of the Year and Supervisor of the Year awards.
Arnold holds a Bachelor of Liberal Studies from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from American Military University and is pursuing his Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Abilene Christian University. He also achieved an Advanced Law Enforcement Certification from the Oklahoma Council for Law Enforcement Education and Training and a Master Peace Officer Proficiency Certificate from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
Arnold is also a subject matter expert in Data Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety and a Certified Gallup Global Strengths Coach.
Arnold has been married to his wife, RaeAnn, for over 26 years. They have two adult sons, Logan and Ethan. Their extended family lives in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas.
Leave a Reply