McKinney officials on Tuesday announced Assistant Chief Joe Ellenburg has been appointed as chief of the McKinney Police Department.
Ellenburg has been serving as interim police chief following Chief Greg Conley’s move to director of public safety in October. He brings more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, 27 of those with the city of McKinney, according to a news release.
He was sworn in Tuesday during the City Council meeting.
“Appointing a leader for our police department is among the most critical decisions we make as a city, and we know that Chief Ellenburg is the right person for the job,” Mayor George Fuller wrote in the news release. “He understands our city and neighborhoods and is well respected by our officers and community members. We are confident he will continue to lead the department forward.”
Ellenburg began his law enforcement career in 1992 with the Collin County Sheriff’s Office and was hired by the McKinney Police Department in 1995. Since then, he has worked through the ranks in various divisions, ultimately rising to the assistant chief of operations in 2013.
“Chief Ellenburg has a thorough understanding and appreciation for our organization’s culture and values of respect, integrity, service and excellence. We know he will continue to embrace these during his tenure as chief of police and continue the department’s strong history of servant leadership,” City Manager Paul Grimes said in the release.
Ellenburg is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research Forum and the Texas Police Chiefs Association.
He has a bachelor’s degree in business management from LeTourneau University in Longview, is a graduate of the 264th session of the FBI National Academy and a 2022 graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police, according to the news release.
“I know the men and women of the McKinney Police Department well and know they are people you can count on. I’m honored and humbled to lead them forward. Our success is dependent on building strong internal and external relationships, which is something our people do well day in and day out,” Ellenburg said in the release.
