BEAUMONT, Texas — The Beaumont Police Department officially welcomed a new leader on Thursday as Tim Ocnaschek was sworn in as the new chief of police.
Ocnaschek was sworn in by Chief Magistrate Judge Craig Lively at the Downtown Event Centre, replacing longtime Chief Jimmy Singletary who retired in July after decades of service.
In his acceptance speech during the swearing-in ceremony, the chief highlighted characteristics he is hoping to bring to the department.
"I will continue to dedicate myself to this community and look forward to establishing more and better relationships and promoting a service mentality," said Chief Ocnaschek. "This is a great day to work towards a safer Beaumont, and I’m honored by this opportunity."
The Beaumont City Council voted on July 30 to unanimously approve the city manager's recommendation to promote then Police Captain Ocnaschek to become the city's next chief of police.
After the vote, Chief Ocnaschek addressed the council and the crowd.
"I pledge my dedication to making this community a safer place. As you know, we've had the grand opening of the Real-Time Crime Center," he said. "And this department has spent years developing and training people for carrying equipment and technology, expanding to accommodate the cutting edge technology to fight crime."
Ocnaschek went on to thank the mayor, the city manager and council members for supporting his appointment.
Chief Ocnaschek has spent the last eight years of his 38-year career in law enforcement as part of the Beaumont Police Department's top command staff, according to a news release from the city.
Police Chief Ocnaschek holds a master's degree in public administration from Midwestern State and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Lamar University.
He also served in the Air Force where he managed security forces for many facilities including Randolph Air Force Base.
"With his parents permission at the age of 17, he joined the Air Force, because even at that age, they guaranteed him the opportunity to work in law enforcement," said Beaumont Assistant Chief Charles Jeffcoat during the swearing-in ceremony.
"During his first duty assignment at Randolph Air Force Base near San Antonio, he quickly demonstrated a work ethic and superior performance that resulted in his recruitment to become a reserve police officer at Live Oak Police Department," said Assistant Chief Jeffcoat. "Live Oak sent him through a civilian police academy and swore him in as a reserve police officer."
He was able to remain assigned to an active duty Air Force unit and over the next two years, he worked as a reserve police officer, a dispatcher and a full-time police officer in the city of Live Oak, Texas, according to Assistant Chief Jeffcoat.
Chief Ocnaschek started working for the Beaumont Police Department in 1992 and during the following 10 years, he served as a patrol officer, a field training officer specialist and a detective in the criminal investigations division.
"In 2003, he was recognized as the Outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Air Force at Headquarters Level," said Assistant Chief Jeffcoat. "That same year, he returned to Beaumont Police Department where he was promoted to sergeant and assigned to patrol as a night shift supervisor."
Chief Ocnaschek was promoted to lieutenant in 2011 and was promoted to captain in 2016.
He maintained emergency management functions while also managing tactical teams and other additional units in the administrative division.
"Thank you for taking the time out of your day and busy schedules to celebrate this event," said Chief Ocnaschek.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.