UTA police chief named to top state post
Kim Lemaux was fresh out of college, feeling stuck in a desk job and convinced there was a career out there that better suited her interests.
“I wanted to engage with people, and I wanted my work to have greater meaning,” said Lemaux, the chief of police at The University of Texas at Arlington. “I wanted to effect change, make a difference and serve the community. Being a police officer just seemed to fit those goals.”
Earlier this month, Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Lemaux as chairwoman of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, the organization that establishes and enforces standards to ensure that the people of Texas are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement, corrections and telecommunications personnel.
“This is a tremendous and well-deserved honor for Chief Lemaux,” UTA President Vistasp Karbhari said. “Her leadership at UTA has resulted in not just a safe and secure campus, but one that is welcoming to all and focused on the wellness and success of our students, and I’m deeply grateful for her efforts in enabling this. I have no doubt that she will bring a similar passion to the leadership of the commission, bringing focus and benefits to the entire state. I am extremely proud of and thankful for all she does.”
It’s the latest milestone for Lemaux, a UTA alumna and a trailblazer in a profession where just 12% of law enforcement officers are women. She joined the Arlington Police Department in 1982, advancing to the deputy chief position before taking the top post in the UTA Police Department in 2013.
Lemaux has been a commissioner with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement since 2017. She is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Texas Police Chiefs Association and North Texas Police Chiefs Association.
“I am profoundly grateful to Gov. Abbott for the opportunity to serve him, the citizens of Texas and the law enforcement profession through this appointment,” Lemaux said. “It is an incredible honor, and I’m proud to represent UTA and the UT System. These roles better our profession and make Texas a better place to live.”
At UTA, Lemaux oversees a department with approximately 46 commissioned officers, including three detectives. The police department also includes a civilian investigator, about 10 civilian administrators and 45 public safety officers, who provide additional safety and security measures for the campus community.
“I love interacting with such a dynamic and diverse group of people at UTA,” she said. “One of my colleagues says, ‘Our job is to protect the people who will change the world,’ and I think that is so true. We have incredible people on our team who have a heart to serve, a desire to protect and a passion for students.”
John Hall, vice president for administration and campus operations, said Lemaux is an exceptional leader who is passionate about her work.
“Chief Lemaux is a dedicated law enforcement officer with a wealth of experience in policing and a deep passion for maintaining a safe environment for the students and employees of UTA,” Hall said. “Her appointment from the governor is indicative of the high regard in which she is held by colleagues and the impact she has both here on campus and statewide.”