CHIEF DAVID KUNKLE
In 2023 , Arlington PD joined the North Texas community in mourning the death of Chief David Kunkle . Chief Kunkle led APD from 1985-1999 and then continued to serve the City of Arlington as a Deputy City Manager . He also served as the Chief of the Grand Prairie and Dallas Police Departments during his storied and impactful career .
Chief Kunkle oversaw the opening of the Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center , was instrumental in creating our Honor Guard , and helped shape APD ' s legacy as a leader in community Percent policing change . After from his 2021 tenure as the Arlington
Police Chief , he served as Arlington ’ s Deputy City Manager for five years .
Those at APD who worked for him often share stories about his sharp wit and his keen ability to remember his employees ' names and assignments , which makes how he was taken from us even more heartbreaking .
We were deeply honored when he and his family visited us in 2021 and donated several of his personal items , including his old badges , to the department . These important pieces of APD history will help us keep his story and legacy alive for many years .
30 | 2023 Annual Report