Freeman/Photo by Noah Dawson
Interim City Manager Andrew Freeman recently made some major changes to the leadership of the city’s public safety departments.
Freeman announced the changes in an email to city staff. The email, which was obtained by The Amarillo Pioneer, notes that APD Chief Martin Birkenfeld is being moved to a newly created role titled “Managing Director of Public Safety.” In this new role, he will oversee the Amarillo Police Department, the Amarillo Fire Department, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Amarillo Emergency Communications Center. According to the email, the city “will benefit from this organizational change through a more cohesive work team in public safety.”
Freeman also noted in the email that this position, unlike other managing directors, will be a fully standalone position, meaning that Birkenfeld will be stepping down from his role as Chief of Police. Though some have reported that the city is now looking for a new Chief of Police, the email notes that the search will not begin until “May or June,” when the ongoing search for a new City Manager is completed. In the meantime, Assistant Chief Jimmy Johnson is being promoted to Interim Chief of Police.
We will provide updates about these changes as they become available.