Mar 22, 20235 min read

Reception honoring Police Chief Ellis

Summary: Join Willow Park neighbors in honoring Police Chief Ellis as she retires from the Willow Park Police Department. Thursday, 23 March 2023, 4P to 6P Come and go. El Chico City Hall, 120 El Chico Trail, Suite A, Willow Park, Texas

Latest Update: Thursday, 16 March, 2023

Tags: #EMSFirePoliceAmb

Reception honoring Police Chief Ellis

Join Willow Park neighbors in honoring Police Chief Ellis as she retires from the Willow Park Police Department.

Thursday, 23 March 2023

4P to 6P Come and go.

El Chico City Hall

120 El Chico Trail, Suite A

Willow Park, Texas 76087

Chief Ellis announced her plans for retirement during the 28 February 2023 Council Meeting. [WPC Blog below.] And in an 01 March article in The Community News, she explained her plans, "Ellis, formerly West, recently married Belton Chief of Police Gee Ellis. She said she can’t reveal what her next stop will be, only to say she is going to stay in law enforcement as a chief."

During the 14 March 2023 Council Meeting, Assistant Chief Daniel Franklin was appointed Interim Police Chief.

Past WPC Blogs and The Community News articles about Willow Park Poilce Chief Ellis are below.

Willow Park Police Chief resigns.

Willow Park Police Chief Ellis, aka Chief West, who married without fanfare a few months ago, has officially submitted her retirement as of the end of March. She made her announcement to a shocked and saddened council and citizen audience during Tuesday night's council meeting.

“You are the best police chief I’ve ever worked with. No questions about it.” said Willow Park City Administrator Bryan Grimes — a sentiment and an experience with which the whole council and audience agreed.

Chief Ellis thanked the Willow Park council and citizens for the opportunity to serve Willow Park for over five years. She proudly proclaimed she would put the Willow Park Police Department up against any police department in Parker County or, for that matter, all of Texas. And she reassured the council and citizens she is leaving the Willow Park Police Department in good hands.

As a personal comment, Willow Park citizens are left in good hands thanks to Chief Ellis’ personal investment, growth, and management of the Willow Park Police Department. She set the standard, the tone, and the police personnel, who reflect her philosophy of and faith in public service.

Our neighborhoods have been blessed, through Chief Ellis, with police who are public servants at heart and at law.

The council and citizens agreed we have never lived in a neighbor where we felt safer than here in Willow Park. "It's never been this good before." remarked Council Gilliland.

Thank you, Police Chief Ellis, and God Speed and Blessings,

Willow Park Civics

PS. As further thanks, Willow Park Civics is reposting several The Community News articles and the Willow Park website bio of the Willow Park chief of Police.

• History-making police chief saying goodbye, The Community News, 01 March 2023

• Carrie West celebrates five years leading Police Department, [in .pdf] The Community News August, 2022

Five years ago Carrie West came to Willow Park, making history as Parker County’s first female chief of police.

Born and raised in Fort Worth, a graduate of Paschal High School, and a lifelong resident of the Metroplex, she was already a success in law enforcement before making the historic decision to lead Parker County’s second-largest police force. She had served more than 21 years with the City of Corinth police department, including being named Officer of the Year and Supervisor of the Year in 2009.

She retired from the Corinth PD in July 2016. But, after working as a risk manager in the private sector, she was reminded her calling is in law enforcement, and in 2017 she came to Willow Park.

• Willow Park Chief of Police, City of Willow Park Website.

Chief Carrie Ellis was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and is a National Honor Society Graduate of R.L. Paschal High School. She is a lifelong resident of the metroplex.

Chief Ellis attended the Tarrant County College Police Academy from October 1993 to December 1993 and was elected class Secretary / Treasurer. After successfully completing the Academy, Chief Ellis began her law enforcement career with the Town of Marshall Creek. She served in her position as a police officer until February 1994, when she transitioned to the City of Corinth.

Chief Ellis had over 21 distinguished years of service with the City of Corinth. During her tenure, she served as Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Criminal Investigator, Corporal, and Lieutenant. Some of her accomplishments include serving as the Senior Law Enforcement Explorer Advisor, and facilitating the development of the Citizens Police Academy and the award-winning CSI: Camp. Chief Ellis was also honored as Officer of the Year in 2001 and Supervisor of the Year in 2009.

Chief Ellis earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from Midwestern State University (2003) and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington (2007). Chief Ellis is a 2009 graduate of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration’s School of Police Supervision. She is also a 2015 graduate of the Bill Blackwood Leadership Command College, Class #74. Chief Ellis has over seven thousand combined education and training hours with the Texas Commission On Law Enforcement (TCOLE).

Chief Ellis retired from the Corinth Police Department in July 2016. She served as a Risk Manager in the private sector but knew her calling was serving others through Law Enforcement. On January 17, 2017, Chief Ellis was confirmed by the City of Willow Park City Council as the first female Chief of Police. Chief Ellis began her service to the citizens of Willow Park on February 1, 2017.

Since beginning her tenure with the Willow Park Police Department, Chief Ellis has implemented numerous departmental policies and practices including a competitive hiring and promotional process and a new uniform policy. She has also implemented additional internal controls to facilitate improved performance. Chief Ellis facilitated the Department attaining the status of “Recognized Agency” with the Texas Police Chief’s Association in 2020. Chief Ellis is also the 2020 recipient of the East Parker County Chamber of Commerce’s Pappy Thompson Community Service Award.

Chief Ellis is a member of the North Texas Police Chief’s Association, Texas Police Chief’s Association, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. She served on the Texas Police Chief’s Association Ethics Committee (2017-2019) and is actively serving as a Chairperson of the Texas Police Chief’s Association Women’s Leadership Committee. Chief Ellis is also the elected Secretary for the North Texas Police Chief’s Association and also serves on the North Central Texas Council of Governments Criminal Justice and Policy Development Committee. Chief Ellis previously served as the Vice Chair and the Board Chair of the Caruth Police Institute Executive Advisory and Steering Committee.

Chief Ellis is married to her husband Gene and together they have five children and eight grandchildren.

Willow Park Police Department Facebook Photos