Palmer takes the reins at CWSPD
Contributed
Gregory Palmer is sworn in as the new chief of the Cottonwood Shore Police Department by City Administrator Sheila C. Moore.
By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
Cottonwood Shores has a new police chief.
On the job since April 10 is Gregory Palmer, a 23-year veteran of law enforcement.
“Cottonwood Shores was blessed with multiple excellent candidates,” said Shiela Moore, city administrator and city secretary. “Mayor Donald Orr, Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Sherry and I interviewed many candidates for the position. We narrowed the results down to our top four candidates and presented them to the council in a special meeting March 28.”
The city council agreed with the opinion of the selection committee and Palmer was invited to become the new chief of the Cottonwood Shores Police Department.
Palmer holds Master Peace Officer’s certification. In addition to positions with the Trinity and Houston police departments, he has served with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
Public Safety has been a longtime concern of the Cottonwood Shores council. Early on it ascribed a quarter of sales tax (.5 percent of the 2 percent total) collected to a crime control and prevention fund. Last year, they added a new police vehicle through a Lower Colorado River Authority grant they won. And, they have chosen other previous CWSPD officers carefully, including former chief Chris Bieze, who has moved on the Burnet County Sheriff's Office, and Ofcr. Sarah Petersen and Lt. John-Michael Talamantez, who were recognized for their successful life saving efforts on behalf of a domestic violence victim last year.
