New chief, new plan for Hooks
Millwood wants to deepen officers’ community ties
HOOKS, Texas — Forming partnerships with residents and others in the community is a priority for the incoming chief of Hooks Police Department.
Johnny Millwood, current police chief at Paul Pewitt Independent School
District, officially takes the reins in Hooks on Feb.
12. He was hired by the
City Council during a Jan.
29 special meeting.
Millwood succeeds
Ricky Woodard, who recently retired as chief.
Jay Hedges, the department’s school resource officer, has been interim chief since Jan. 19.
For Millwood — a local resident who loves “our Hooks community” — joining the department is a homecoming of sorts.
“I worked as a Hooks police officer approximately 27 years ago,” he said to the Gazette.
Millwood will have more than 30 years of law enforcement experience behind the chief’s badge. He has been a K-9 officer, a rescue/recovery diver, investigator, police academy instructor, firearms instructor, police supervisor and high school criminal justice teacher. He also has experience in emergency management.
Mayor Marc Reiter said it is Millwood’s experience that sets him apart.
“We have confidence that he’s going to do a good job. He’s going to be a great police chief,” Reiter said.
To help with finding Woodard’s successor, Reiter, with input from the Council, organized a search committee of Municipal Judge Les Colley, Nash City Administrator Doug Bowers and former Atlanta Police chief Robin Betts. Colley and Bowers also have been chiefs of police departments, with Colley once leading the Hooks department.
The panel reviewed the resumés of about 15 applicants before selecting three finalists. Reiter attended the interviews conducted with each finalist.
The panel eventually recommended Millwood for the job, and Reiter presented the recommendation to the five-member City Council.
“I also had them (the search panel) come in and explain (before the Council) why they felt that he is the best candidate for what we’re looking for. Based on that, they voted unanimously,” Reiter said.
In 2018, Millwood was at the center of a controversy during his employment with New Boston Police Department. The matter included an investigation by the Texas Rangers, Millwood’s subsequent reinstatement with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and the firing of the police chief.
Reiter said Millwood was upfront about the situation during his interview.
Hedges, who did not apply for the chief job, said Millwood’s familiarity with Hooks will be an asset.
“I just think his years of experience and his knowledge will help the Police Department,” said Hedges, adding that a “new change of pace” will be welcomed.
One trait the Council desired in a chief is the ability to forge strong ties within the community of about 2,700 residents.
“When changes happen like this, especially at the top, that’s when you want to see the chief come in, take hold of things, and your citizens see that they
can continue to have confidence in the Police Department,” Reiter said.
Being a person of the people is important to Millwood.
“My philosophy as a public servant is one of community-based policing and that of being receptive to the citizens that you serve,” he said.
To that end, Millwood said “one of the first things” he intends to do is to speak with his officers on how he can best assist them. He also plans to gather input from residents on how the Police Department can expand its involvement in community activities.
Millwood also will be tasked with finding additional officers.
When he joins the department, Millwood will bring the force to five members. Hedges said two more positions will need to be filled, including an opening left by the retirement of former sergeant Warren Paul.
“Just like every other law enforcement agency across the nation, Hooks Police Department is also feeling the effects of the nationwide police officer shortage,” Millwood said.
For now, Hedges said he is eager to get back to his SRO duties at Hooks ISD full time.
“It’s fun being over there. The best part about any job [is when] you want to go to work,” said Hedges, who has been with Hooks Police for about 17 years.
Millwood has been married to Michele, an elementary school teacher at Paul Pewitt, for almost 20 years. They have five children ages 23 to 35.
According to the FBI’S Crime Data Explorer, Hooks reported eight violent crimes and 34 property crimes in 2022, the most recent data available.