La Marque officially has a new top cop. Byron Frankland took the oath Thursday as the city’s police chief during a ceremony at City Hall, closing out a nationwide search and months of internal transition. Frankland, who started with the La Marque Police Department on Feb. 16, told those gathered he plans to lean on decades of operational experience to steady the force. His appointment ends the interim stretch that followed former Chief Randall Aragon’s retirement last fall.
The ceremony unfolded in Council Chambers, with a public meet-and-greet afterward, according to the city’s announcement. The release describes Frankland as a law enforcement veteran with more than 30 years in the field and notes the department conducted a nationwide search that drew more than 40 applicants. As outlined by the City of La Marque, candidates were scored using a weighted evaluation, and Frankland ultimately outpaced the other finalists.
Background and experience
Frankland’s resume reads like a tour of Texas policing and emergency management. He has served as assistant chief and patrol captain with the Galveston Police Department, police chief and assistant city manager in Hutto, and emergency operations coordinator for the City of Galveston. The Galveston reported he holds a master peace officer license, has completed thousands of hours of TCOLE training and is expected to finish a criminal justice degree this year. The outlet also noted he steps into a department that had been under interim leadership after Chief Randall Aragon retired in October.
Frankland told council members he had “undertaken nearly every role within the police department” over his long career and said law enforcement has long been a personal passion, not just a job description.
Council approval and contract details
The City Council formally confirmed Frankland as chief on Feb. 9, and city records later listed his annual salary at $141,000. The council also approved a severance provision of up to $54,230, available if a future city manager fires the chief for reasons other than misconduct. Those contract figures and details of the council vote were reported by the Galveston County Daily News.
Local reaction and interim leadership
Lieutenant Gilberto Rodriguez had been steering the department as interim chief during the transition, and officials publicly thanked him for keeping the agency on course. At Thursday’s ceremony, City Clerk Kierra Nance administered Frankland’s oath, while City Manager Barbara Holly said the hiring panel gave him a clear edge based on his operational experience and leadership track record.
Mayor Keith Bell reminded residents that the department is stepping into this new chapter with some momentum already on the books. He told the Galveston County Daily News that “in our great city, crime has been on a decline for about five years,” a point city leaders have repeated as they frame Frankland’s mandate.
What to watch next
Frankland told officials he was honored to return to a policing role and said his early priorities include strengthening community trust, sharpening readiness and supporting officers inside the department. City announcements note expectations that he will oversee operational improvements and work with council members on staffing and facility needs, including remediation plans discussed earlier this year.
Residents who want the official announcement and event details can find them on the City of La Marque website.
