ABILENE, Texas — The Abilene Police Department announced the promotion of Sgt. Richard Waggoner to assistant chief of police Friday. Waggoner will oversee patrol services, effective Jan. 2, 2022.
Waggoner is a graduate of Jim Ned High School and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who started his employment with the APD in October 2001, an APD press release said. He worked as a patrolman until his promotion to sergeant in February 2007, when he became a patrol supervisor.
In January 2010, he was selected to be the traffic division commander and served in that role until his promotion to assistant chief. He has been a member of the SWAT team since April 2004, and the SWAT commander since August 2010.
“Richard Waggoner has served the Department and the citizens of Abilene for over 20 years. I believe he will make a great addition to our Department as an Assistant Chief. His proven leadership as a Traffic and SWAT Commander will help guide our officers for years to come,” APD Chief Marcus Dudley Jr. said in the release.
Waggoner joins Dudley and assistant chiefs Doug Wrenn and Craig Jordan in police administration. He was chosen for the position from an extensive promotional selection process that occurred after Mike Perry voluntarily transferred to a patrol commander position at his previous rank of lieutenant.
