A Message from the Chief

Welcome! On behalf of the men and women of the Denison Police Department, I would like to thank you for visiting our website. The Denison Police Department is a forward-thinking municipal police agency dedicated to serving the citizens, stakeholders and visitors of our great community. The Denison Police Department is a Texas Police Chief Association Best Practices State Recognized agency employing a diverse workforce comprised of 51 commissioned officers and 17 civilian employees. Our Officers serve approximately 25,000 residents, countless visitors, and patrol over 23 square miles of incorporated city limits.

We here at the Denison Police Department are proud of our rich history and our tradition of excellence. Our continued goal is to strengthen our partnership with our community as we provide the highest quality of police service and safety to those we serve. We are dedicated to the philosophy of community policing and know that building strong relationships leads to a higher quality of life in our community. Working together with our residents, business owners, school district, faith-based community, and other city departments, we are creating a community of choice with a safe environment in which to live, work, and play.  

It is my honor and I am truly thankful to serve as your Chief of Police. The Denison Police Department is continuously seeking high-quality men and women to join us in protecting and serving the citizens of Denison.  Our objective is to be the best police department in the Texoma region.  I am fortunate to work with a caring, well-trained, and enthusiastic team of extraordinary men and women, sworn and non-sworn, who have made a commitment to serve the outstanding residents and visitors of Denison.  

Again, thank you for visiting our webpage; we welcome your comments and look forward to serving you in the future. 

If you do not find the information that you need, please feel free to contact us at 903-465-2422 or email at policedept@cityofdenison.com.

Get to know Chief Gudgel!

Chief Gudgel is a graduate of the Tarleton State University with a Bachelor of Arts and Applied Sciences in Criminal Justice Administration. Chief Gudgel is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA) Executive Institute, the Texas Police Chiefs Associations Developing Leaders for Texas Law Enforcement, and GMI Management Skills (Bill Blackwood LEMIT). Chief Gudgel holds a Master Peace Officer and Instructor Certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).

Chief Gudgel began his law enforcement career with the Grand Prairie Police Department in 1992. During his career, Chief Gudgel has worked as a Patrol Officer, Detective, Narcotics Investigator, Patrol Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, Community Services Lieutenant, Patrol Deputy Chief, and Criminal Investigations Deputy Chief. Chief Gudgel became the City of Denison’s Police Chief in July of 2019. Chief Gudgel and his wife are proud parents of twin daughters and he enjoys spending time with family and the outdoors.