Richmond, Texas has a new police chief, and for the first time in the city's history, a woman is leading the department. Dixie Brzozowski's promotion became effective Monday, following a badge pinning ceremony at Richmond City Hall, and she now holds the distinction of being the 11th chief to lead the agency since its founding.
The ceremony took place at 2 p.m. in the Annex Commission Room, according to the City of Richmond, formally marking her transition into the department's top command role. Brzozowski's entire 34-year law enforcement career has unfolded within the Richmond Police Department, where she spent the last 12 years serving as assistant chief before this week's elevation. As reported by ABC13 Houston, officials said her service totals 34 years.
An Internal Promotion, Not an Outside Hire
Brzozowski's rise to chief represents continuity rather than a shake-up driven by outside recruitment. She spent the last 12 years as assistant chief before this week's elevation.
In comments following her appointment, Brzozowski said Richmond's officers are deeply committed to serving the community, and that interactions with residents reinforce the purpose of the work while strengthening community trust, according to ABC13's reporting. She added that she was honored to take the role and looked forward to leading the team, the station noted.
Why the Chief's Office Came Open
Brzozowski succeeds Jeff Craig, who served six years at the helm of the Richmond Police Department before moving into a newly established executive post as Assistant City Manager – Chief of Public Safety this month. That expanded role puts Craig in charge of overseeing the police department, the fire department, the fire marshal's office, and municipal court, the city said. The restructuring effectively created the vacancy that opened the door for Brzozowski's promotion.
Craig arrived in Richmond in June 2020 carrying 38 years of public-safety experience, including nine years as police chief in Victoria, Texas, and nearly three decades with the Long Beach Police Department in California, according to the city's records. He had originally succeeded former Richmond Chief Gary Adams that same year. At the time Craig took over, the department operated with 38 sworn peace officers and 11 civilian personnel serving the city, the city noted.
A Small Department With a History of Accreditation
Richmond, incorporated in 1837 as the county seat of Fort Bend County, had an estimated population of 12,816 residents as of 2026, according to the Texas Municipal League. That makes it a small-to-midsize municipal agency operating within one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. In November 2019, the department earned its third consecutive re-recognition from the Texas Police Chiefs Association Law Enforcement Recognition Program after demonstrating compliance with 168 state professional standards covering areas like use of force, citizen rights, and evidence handling, per the city.
Women Remain Scarce in Police Leadership Nationally
Brzozowski's appointment lands against a backdrop of persistent underrepresentation of women in police leadership across the country. Bureau of Justice Statistics data on 2020 personnel found that female officers made up roughly 14% of full-time sworn officers and just 11% of first-line supervisors at local police departments nationwide, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Brzozowski's promotion marks a local milestone: she is the first woman to lead the department.
