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City of Marlin selects new chief of police, finance manager

Posted at 5:04 PM, Nov 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-13 23:54:38-05

MARLIN, TX — The City of Marlin has selected a new chief of police and finance manager.

Lawrence McCall was the Dallas County Constable for Precinct 1 for 12 years, according to his LinkedIn. He previously served as an assistant commander and lieutenant for the Dallas County Sheriff's Department Task Force for 11 years.

City Manager Cedric Davis said the hire comes after pushing for improvements among the police ranks.

"We pushed hard to meet that criteria. We got a clean bill of health from T-COLE last week saying that we was in compliance," he said.

Now, Davis and the council expect a more community-involved police force.

”Going into the schools, Skills USA, Police Athletic League, mentoring programs, and these are things [McCall's] been involved with well over a decade,” said Davis.

Former Marlin Chief of Police Nathan Sodek died by suicide in August during the execution of an arrest warrant for sexual assault by the Texas Rangers.

When 25 News asked Terri Westmoreland what she expected in a new Marlin police chief, she had very clear expectations.

"We're looking for something a lot better," she said.

Marlin's raising of the bar when it comes to picking candidates for city jobs has certainly gained notice among surrounding cities.

”Somebody, a city manager from a town close to Waco, they wanted to know how did we manage to pull that caliber of candidates,” Davis explained.

At the same time, the city council hired a new finance manager Judy Sesk, who Davis says has two degrees and decades of experience.

City leaders also hired Houston forensic accounting firm Stewart & Hurst to comb through city books to create a detailed report on city finances by the end of the year.

The new police chief and finance manager will start in two weeks, about the time the forensic accountant will begin his work.

Because people in Marlin want transparency, top to bottom.

"I think it's something that should have been done a long time ago. It's something that's been needed in this town," said Westmoreland.