Southlake Police Chief Stephen Mylett. Photo courtesy of the city of Southlake.
Southlake Police Chief Stephen Mylett has conditionally accepted an offer to be the next Police Chief of Bellevue, Wash., according to a press release by the city of Southlake.
“Steve Mylett is the police chief Southlake needed as we experienced different challenges over the past several years,” said city manager Shana Yelverton. “We have made ongoing staff development a priority and Chief Mylett has carried that forward with his officers and command staff. I am grateful for his service to the Southlake community.”
Mylett came to Southlake from Corpus Christi where he moved through the ranks starting as a police officer in 1989. He came to Southlake in October of 2012.
“I am forever indebted to the citizens of Southlake, the Southlake City Council, City Manager Shana Yelverton and the men and women of the Southlake Police Department for allowing me to serve and learn from an exemplary City,” said Mylett. “Should a final offer of employment be extended by the City of Bellevue, I will very much miss the Southlake community,” he added.
Most recently, Mylett reported crime was down in the city, as of Jan. 21. Over the course of his 3-year tenure, Mylett reported auto burglaries decreased by 33 percent, residential burglaries decreased by 39 percent, accident decreased by 13 percent, and thefts decreased by 4 percent.
Mylett attributed much of the success to the residents' actions in following the Hide, Lock, Take guidelines and reporting suspicious activity in your neighborhood.
"As a police department, we have taken strategic measures and initiated programs that work!" Mylett said in a Jan. 21 message to the community, referencing measures such as the Holiday Crime Initiative, the District Sergeants Program, police officers attending HOA and SPARK meetings, and the Community Initiatives efforts to help educate the public. "These programs, along with our active base of volunteers including Cops on Patrol (COPs) and Volunteers in Policing (VIPs) and our messaging and communication efforts to ‘you’ – the citizen — have resulted in the significant drop in burglaries and thefts."
Mylett's last day with the City has not been determined. The City of Bellevue has announced that he is expected to start in Bellevue in April pending a final offer. He will replace Linda Pillo, who retired from the department nearly one year ago, according to the Associated Press.
Bellevue is Washington's fifth largest city and sits on the east side of Seattle. Its population is nearly 130,00. The department has 178 officers and 42 civilian employees.
“The Southlake Police Department is well positioned to move forward through this transition. I am pleased that Assistant Chief James Brandon has agreed to act as the Interim Chief of Police,” said Yelverton. “He is an integral part of the department's success. I look forward to working with him on Southlake's safety and security issues.”
Brandon has been part of the Southlake Police Department since February 2013. Prior to coming to Southlake, he served in various capacities at the Corpus Christi Police department including the Captain of the Organized Crime Unit and Captain of the SWAT unit.
Brandon is a Graduate of the 58th session of the Senior Management Institute for Police (PERF), holds a National Tactical Officer's SWAT Command and Decision Making certification as well as an Internet Crimes against Children Task Force Supervisor certification.