Hot Springs police chief announces retirement
HOT SPRINGS – In a letter sent today to the members of the Hot Springs Police Department, Police Chief David Flory announced his retirement from the City of Hot Springs, effective November 30. (Note: the letter is printed in its entirety at the bottom of this email.)
On February 28, 2011, Flory was selected as Hot Springs’ police chief by former City Manager Lance Hudnell. Flory’s top goals included increasing the department’s professionalism and making it the best in the state. “I believe that as a team, we have accomplished both of these goals,” Flory stated in his announcement letter. “Our organization is much more respected within the community of Hot Springs and greater Garland County as well as the law enforcement community within the entire state of Arkansas, and I truly believe that we have arrived at being ‘the best police department in Arkansas.’ Our recent accomplishment of receiving AACP / ALEEP (Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police / Arkansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program) accreditation is testament to that fact.”
Flory’s career includes 37 years in full-time law enforcement, 22 of those years as assistant chief or police chief. He states that he will continue teaching in the United States Justice Department’s VALOR Program; pursuing training opportunities in law enforcement as well as school and church safety; spending more time with family; and enjoying recreational activities.
“Chief Flory is well respected across the country and among police chiefs throughout the state,” said Interim City Manager Bill Burrough. “He has been a positive influence for the Hot Springs Police Department during his years with the city. We wish him a happy retirement and the best in his future endeavors.”
-30-
From: David Flory
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2015 1:36 PM
To: Police Dist
Subject: Chief Flory retirement
All members of the Hot Springs Police Department:
It is with excitement and yet apprehension that I announce my pending retirement from the Hot Springs Police Department, effective Monday November 30, 2015. I will be closing out a chapter of my life that has seen 37 years in full-time law enforcement, 22 of those years as a combination assistant chief/police chief. I have had a blessed career and want to thank each of you for making it that much better.
I intend to pursue a “more time” career in teaching in the Justice Department’s VALOR Program as well as pursuing business opportunities in other law enforcement training venues as well as school and church safety training. I look forward to spending more time with my family and pursuing recreational activities that full-time work seems to hamper.
My nearly five years of tenure as police chief for HSPD has not only been challenging but fulfilling. When hired by then City Manager, Lance Hudnell I was given a very specific mandate: “change the culture and make the department more professional.” Along with that mandate, my goal, as stated many times to many of you, the community and the media was to “make us the best police department in the state of Arkansas.” I believe that as a team, we have accomplished both of these goals. Our organization is much more respected within the community of Hot Springs and greater Garland County as well as the law enforcement community within the entire State of Arkansas, and I truly believe that we have arrived at being “the best police department in Arkansas.” Our recent accomplishment of receiving AACP/ALEEP accreditation is testament to that fact.
Along the way, we have also made great strides in making our employees better trained, better equipped and safer in doing their job. I won’t go into all of the things that we have accomplished, as each of you have your own opinion as to what that is but I sincerely believe that we are a much better department than we were five years ago and each of you/all of you deserve credit in getting us there.
I know that some of you have not always agreed with the process of getting us to being the best or with all of my decisions and I understand that. Change is difficult, especially when it affects you personally. I did my very best based on my experience, training, gut and God’s direction; I sincerely apologize to those of you that did not agree along the way.
So, with that I wish nothing but the very best to each of you individually and to the Hot Springs Police Department as a whole. May God bless each of you and keep you safe.
Sincerely,
David Flory
Police Chief
City of Hot Springs, Arkansas