Andy Kancel, Chief of Police

Andy Kancel began proudly serving the citizens of Flower Mound as Chief of Police on November 4, 2013, having over 24 years in law enforcement experience in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He began his law enforcement career with the North Richland Hills Police Department in 1989, and rose to the rank of Assistant Police Chief in 2007.  During his career, he has experienced nearly all aspects of policing to include patrol, SWAT, community services, training, media relations, and internal affairs.  Chief Kancel holds a Permanent Peace Officers License for the State of Texas, a Master Peace Officers License, and he is a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education licensed instructor.

He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, The FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development program, the 44th Session of the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University, and the Police Supervision Course and Advanced Management College at the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration.  Chief Kancel graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership from Mountain State University and is currently working towards his Master's Degree at the University of Oklahoma.



Wendell Mitchell, Assistant Chief

Assistant Chief Wendell Mitchell joined the Flower Mound Police Department in March of 1994.  During his career with the Flower Mound Police Department, he has been involved in nearly all aspects of the department including patrol, field training, criminal investigations, internal affairs, media relations, tactical and special operations.  He has promoted through the ranks having served as an officer, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and captain and was selected as Assistant Chief in March 2010.

Assistant Chief Mitchell holds a Master Peace Officer License and a TCOLE Instructor certification.  He is a graduate of the 229th session of the FBI National Academy and the 47th class of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas Leadership Command College.  He also holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science Degree from Mid-Western State University and a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management from Sam Houston State University.



Captain Kurt Labhart, Uniformed Services Division

Kurt Labhart started with the Flower Mound Police Department in April 1993, with previous law enforcement experience Forest Hill, Texas and is a veteran of the United States Navy.

He was assigned to Patrol and later worked in Personnel and Training.  In 1996, Captain Labhart became the first motorcycle officer in the Town.  A year later, he promoted to the rank of sergeant and served both in the Traffic Section and as a Patrol Sergeant.  In 2002, Captain Labhart was promoted to lieutenant and oversaw one half of all patrol operations.  In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and has served as the Patrol Operations Commander since that time.  Captain Labhart holds a Master Peace Officer License and TCOLE Instructor License.  Captain Labhart is a Police Motorcycle and Driving Instructor and has worked as a Field Training Officer and Field Training Supervisor.  He serves as one of the Public Information Officers for the Department.  He was the recipient of the Officer of the Year award in 1996 and Supervisor of the Year in 2000 and 2001.



Captain Wess Griffin, Investigative Services Division
Captain Griffin brings over 22 years of law enforcement experience to his position as Captain of the Investigative Services Division.  The Investigative Services Division houses the Detective Unit and the School Resource Officers.  He joined the Flower Mound Police Department in February of 1995.  While at the Department, he has worked in and supervised Investigative Services Division, Traffic, Professional Standards and Uniformed Services Division.  Prior to his career with Flower Mound, he worked for the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office for three and a half years.

His experience is enhanced through his formal education.  He holds an Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree in Criminal Justice from Tarrant County Junior College, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree in Criminal Justice from Mid-Western University and a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management from Sam Houston State University.  In addition, he has graduated from the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute's Leadership Command College and the FBI National Academy.

Captain Griffin holds the following certifications: Master Peace Officer, Jailer, Advanced Accident Investigator, Crime Prevention Inspector, TCOLE Instructor, and Crisis Negotiator.

He is a member of the Texas Association of Hostage Negotiators, the Lewisville Morning Rotary, and the FBINA Association.  He is the recipient of the Officer of the Year Award in 2000, Community Service Award in 2000, Police Commendation Award in 1998 and 2005, and Supervisor of the Year in 2007.



Captain Richard Brooks, Special Services Division Commander

Captain Brooks began his career with Flower Mound Police Department in 1984 as a Communications Officer and Reserve Police Officer.  He became a full-time Police Officer a year later and continued his career as a detective and then as a Sergeant.  In 1998, he was promoted to Captain and has since commanded all divisions of the Department.  In 2008, he became the Accreditation Manager.  This position has required extensive training and preparation as the Department prepared to achieve its initial Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation award from CALEA in March of 2011 and the Department's first re-accreditation in January 2014.  Captain Brooks currently oversees the Special Services Division.   This division consists of Animal Services, Crossing Guards and Professional Standards.  Captain Brooks is responsible for ensuring the Department's Administrative Directives are updated to current best practices in law enforcement.

His education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Bellevue University, an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Police Science, the FBI National Academy, the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas and over 2,300 training hours of TCOLE approved training.  He holds a Master Peace Officer license from TCOLE.  He is a CALEA trained assessor and a Gold Standard assessor and travels to other accredited agencies and conducts assessments for CALEA.

His professional affiliations include TALON Accreditation Coalition as a Travel Committee Member and FBINAA.



DeDe Garrett, Director of Support Services

Director Garrett began her career with the Flower Mound Police Department in 2001 as a Communications Officer.  During her tenure at Flower Mound, she has served in the Communications Center and Records Department.  She was promoted to Records Supervisor in February of 2010 and the Support Services Manager in June of 2010.  She was appointed Director of Support Services in January of 2012.  As Director, she oversees the operations of the Property and Evidence Department, Records Department, Detention Services and Communications Department.  She is responsible for the Police Department Budget which is approximately $11,000,000.







Police Department Organizational Chart