Sugar Land, TX – A reception with the two finalists for the vacant Sugar Land police chief position is scheduled for Sept. 15, from 4:30-6 p.m., in the auditorium at Fluor Corporation, 1 Fluor Daniel Drive.
Members of the community are encouraged to attend the meeting, listen to brief introductions from the applicants, ask questions and provide feedback.
The police chief finalists include Loudoun County Undersheriff/Colonel Mark J. Poland and League City Police Chief Gary D. Ratliff.
Poland’s 26-year law enforcement career includes a diverse and strong background in many facets of law enforcement, management and leadership. He credits integrity and leading by example as the attributes that led to his appointment as undersheriff of Virginia’s largest full-service sheriff’s office. Most recently, he implemented a complex public-private partnership involving numerous community stakeholders working toward the resettlement of Afghan refugees.
Ratliff’s 37 years of law enforcement experience includes more than 30 years as a supervisor in a city that has experienced tremendous growth during his tenure. During the past 15 years, he implemented an intelligence led policing service delivery model; added a crime analyst position; created a proactive investigative unit; created a Diversity Advisory Board; and created a recruiting, testing and hiring process that enabled his department to fill all open officer positions.
Poland and Ratliff were identified through an extensive, nationwide search. A final selection is expected by November. Sugar Land’s next police chief will replace Eric Robins, who retired in July after 33 years of public service that included 30 at SLPD with four years as chief.