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Above: Former Assistant Chief Glenn Hanson was sworn in June 29 as the new Marble Falls Police Department chief of police. -
Right: New Marble Falls Police Chief Glenn Hanson, pictured here with his wife Brook and Marble Falls City Council members, participated in a biblically-inspired session of laying on of hands after he was sworn in June 29 to lead the department. Pictured with the couple, from left, are City Manager Mike Hodge and council members Rene Rosales, Mayor Richard Westerman, Reed Norman, Dave Rhodes and Bryan Walker. Photos by Connie Swinney/The Highlander -
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Brook Hanson ceremoniously pinned the new police chief badge on her husband Glenn Hanson June 29 during the swearing in event and reception for Glenn Hanson. Connie Swinney/The Highlander -
The Ballards were on hand for the ceremonious affixing of rank pins on his epaulettes following Glenn Hanson’s swearing in as the new MFPD police chief. Connie Swinney/The Highlander -
The new Marble Falls Police Chief Glenn Hanson visited with attendees, including Burnet County Pct. 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery, center, and Marble Falls Mayor Richard Westerman for the swearing in event and reception at Lakeside Park on June 29. Connie Swinney/The Highlander -
The crowd during the June 29 swearing in ceremony included fellow officers, agency representatives throughout the Hill Country area, city personnel, friends and loved ones for Chief Glenn Hanson’s reception. Connie Swinney/The Highlander -
On June 29, outgoing MFPD Chief Mark Whitacre, on the right, congratulated Glenn Hanson, who was previously the assistant chief, on his promotion as the next lead administrator of the local agency. Connie Swinney/The Highlander
A reception and swearing in ceremony June 29 for the newly-appointed Marble Falls Police Chief Glenn Hanson attracted dignitaries, public officials and representatives from law enforcement agencies from across the state to Lakeside Pavilion.
“I’m honored to be here and have you all here with me. It’s fantastic,” Hanson said, when invited to the stage for a few words preceding his swearing in by Marble Falls City Secretary Christina McDonald. “The city of Marble Falls entrusted me with this most noble job, leading what I believe is the best law enforcement agency on the planet.”
About two hundred people in the audience listened to Hanson and outgoing Chief Mark Whitacre speak. Whitacre retired after nearly 36 years with the local agency and 41 full years in law enforcement.
Hanson, who was officially appointed by the city manager in June with the blessing of the city council, referred to pivotal influences and his faith as inspiration.
“Many of the faces I see in the room today have played a big part in helping me achieve this position,” he said.
Hanson made reference to his internship in the Agape ministry and referred to the impact of Galatians 2:20 to offer insight into his life’s perspective.
“‘I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me. The life which I now live in flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me’,” he said. “His hand is on all things.
“I would ask that each one of you going forward would remember me, this department and this city in your prayers everyday,” he added. “I would ask that you would pray that God would use me as his instrument to lead this agency to do His will.”
Whitacre shared Hanson’s career highlights with the crowd which included his ascent since growing up in the Dallas area and graduating from SMU.
He joined the Addison Police Department in November 1990 as reserve police officer and through 1992 served in in the bicycle patrol, unit patrol, communications, jail division and criminal investigation.
In November 1992, he became a full-time police officer for Addison working in the traffic and motorcycle divisions, major crimes and auto theft task forces as well as a crisis negotiator until May 1997.
From 1997 to December 2002, he worked in the private sector before being hired at the Marble Falls Police Department.
In 2002, Whitacre shared that he proudly presented “David Glenn Hanson” as an MFPD officer.
In 2003, he was promoted to police sergeant.
In February 2004 he was promoted to detective sergeant in the criminal investigation division (CID), where through June 2011 he oversaw crimes against children/persons, served as special response team commander, a crisis and hostage negotiator team leader and grant writer.
In June 2011 he was promoted to captain and by October 2018, he was promoted to captain over CID, headed up the school resource program, coordinated the police project team and IT mobilization team and was tapped as communication systems administrator.
In October 2018, he was promoted to assistant police chief and managed planning, budgeting, training, purchasing, personnel, emergency operations, regional radio system and grant writing and served with the International Association of Chiefs of Police tasked with duties on the communications and technology committee and aviation subcommittee.
Hanson’s awards have included Marble Falls PD Officer of Year, 2003; Rotary Club Officer of the Year, 2004 and 2011; and Hill Country 100 Club Officer of the Year, 2005 and 2013.
Professional achievements included graduating from FBI National Academy of Associates Law Enforcement Executives College in 2012 and an award from the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas.
Hanson also expressed how he was “humbled” he was selected to take the helm of the local agency, “I will spend everyday proving that I am worthy of your trust.”
He described how Marble Falls exhibits the traits “of what a community can be when it’s built on love and faith.”
After he was sworn in and at the closing of the presentation, attending Marble Falls City Council members organized a biblically-inspired blessing and “laying” on of the hands for the chief and his wife, Brook, while on stage.
Councilmen Dave Rhodes and Reed Norman expressed their support for the state of public safety in the community and the impact of spiritual guidance in welcoming the new chief.
“It takes leadership in front and behind for [a safe community] to come about,” Rhodes said. “One of our founding fathers said that our Constitution, which we take oath, is made only for a moral and religious people.
“It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other law. We can make laws. We can challenge ourselves. We can look each other in the eye,” he added. “It takes a moral people, and I pray that is us, but I know that is chief in that leadership.”