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Chief of Police
Chief's Message
On behalf of the men and women of the Cleburne Police Department, I would like to welcome you to CleburnePolice.org. We hope our website will provide you with a greater understanding of the services we provide to our community.
Cleburne is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. It is an honor and privilege to serve as your Chief of Police alongside some of the most dedicated police professionals in Texas. The members of our department carry out their duties with enthusiasm for public service and working with our citizens to maintain a safe environment with a high quality of life.
We are open to your suggestions on how we can work together to address issues affecting your neighborhood and community. Officers are available to meet with neighborhood organizations and community groups to discuss specific issues and develop collaborative, innovative solutions to those problems.
You will see a more personal side of CPD by visiting our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram. Please be sure to follow us in order to interact with the department and receive the latest information.
Thank you for your interest in the Cleburne Police Department.
About CPD
In 1871, the Cleburne Police Department was established as a town constable, which later became city marshal. Today the department is a modern, progressive, full-service municipal police agency with an authorized strength of 55 sworn (civil service) officers, 30 reserve officers, and 20 civilian employees. The annual department budget is $8.8 million. We provide law enforcement services 24 hours a day, every day of the year to our residents, businesses and visitors.
Cleburne is home to 32,493 people and the county seat of Johnson County, Texas. The city is located in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex on US 67, just 50 miles southwest of downtown Dallas, and a one-hour drive from DFW International Airport. The city encompasses 35.5 square miles with plenty of land available for expansion. Significant growth has continued since the 2014 opening of the Chisholm Trail Parkway, a 28-mile toll road from I-30 in downtown Fort Worth to US 67 in Cleburne.
Our mission is to protect and serve Cleburne by delivering legitimate, consistent, economical police services that result in the highest level of stakeholder value and satisfaction. We work in partnership with our citizens for the mutual purpose of promoting safe streets and neighborhoods, creating a community free from the fear of crime, and improving the overall quality of life. The department operates under a community policing philosophy committed to intelligence-led policing and a high level of customer service.
Our vision is to be a world-class police department serving the best community in North Texas. Our values are integrity, service and excellence. We have been an accredited agency through the Texas Law Enforcement Best Practices Accreditation Program since 2016.
About the Chief
Chief Rob Severance serves as both Chief of Police and City Marshal for the City of Cleburne, Texas and Director of Animal Services and Code Compliance. He also served as Cleburne's Interim City Manager and Deputy City Manager during a leadership transition.
Before assuming command of the Cleburne Police Department in December 2012, Chief Severance had 22 years of experience with the Grand Prairie Police Department where he served as a commanding officer in every bureau within the agency.
Chief Severance received a Master of Arts in Professional Development from Amberton University, a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, a Bachelor of Arts and Science from Dallas Baptist University, and an Associate of Arts and Science from Dallas College Mountain View Campus.
He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (251st Session), Texas State University's Certified Public Manager Program, Cleburne Chamber of Commerce Leadership Cleburne, and holds Texas Master Peace Officer and Instructor certifications.
Chief Severance serves as a member of several local, state, and international committees and advisory boards, and as an assessor team leader for the Texas Law Enforcement Best Practices Accreditation Program. Other leadership roles include chairman of the North Central Texas Council of Governments Criminal Justice Policy Development Committee, chairman of the North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Safety Advisory Committee, chairman of the Hill College Police Academy Advisory Board, vice chairman of the Johnson County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and adjunct professor of criminal justice administration and management at Southwestern Adventist University.
He received the 2014 Innovation Award from the Texas Police Chiefs Association for achievements in enhancing technology, reorganizing the department for greater efficiency, and implementing new programs.
The Chief’s family history stretches deep into Cleburne and Johnson County’s pasts with relatives who settled here in 1872.