Tomball’s police chief is stepping away after six years at the helm, with Jeff Bert retiring for a new role at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. The move opens a leadership search for a city police department that has been shaped by Bert’s community-focused approach.
Bert’s retirement and university appointment were announced Friday by the Tomball Police Department, Community Impact reported. The announcement did not provide a title, start date or additional details about his new position.
Tomball Begins Search For Its Next Police Chief
Shon Davis was appointed interim chief Friday after previously serving as captain of patrol, while Tomball prepares to launch a nationwide search for a permanent replacement. The department said Bert would be “greatly missed” and thanked him for his leadership, mentorship and service to the community, according to Community Impact.
Bert joined Tomball in July 2020 after retiring from the Los Angeles Police Department, where he spent 24 years working in patrol, investigations, narcotics, vice and administrative assignments. The City of Tomball’s biography also notes that he served as an LAPD commander overseeing community-policing programs and youth initiatives.
Bert Was A Visible Voice On Local Safety Issues
During his Tomball tenure, Bert became a public face of discussions involving schools, traffic and neighborhood safety. In 2022, he presented an expanded school-resource-officer plan that would increase staffing from nine officers to 15 by the 2024-25 school year, with officers assigned to Tomball ISD elementary schools, Community Impact reported…