Lauretta Hill’s dedication to the law enforcement profession spans more than 28 years. She is an energetic, ethical, and accomplished executive leader. Lauretta is a team builder and transformational leader who continues to shape the policing culture. Lauretta was appointed as the first Police Chief for Dallas College in August 2016 and the second African-American female chief in the State of Texas. She combined seven separate police departments into one functional police agency. She restructured the department, developed new policies, and hired new staff to align with the institution’s priorities. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her dedication to policing.
She joined the Miami Beach Police Department in August 2014 as the Deputy Chief of Police. Miami Beach is an international destination whose population swells to several hundreds of thousands of visitors during peak seasons. The Miami Beach Police Department strives to maintain a balance between public safety and promoting an atmosphere of hospitality that is crucial to the Miami Beach tourism industry. Lauretta is responsible for 490 sworn and non-sworn personnel and oversees a $100 million annual operating budget. She restructured the entire department to align with the department’s vision, mission, and values. She reemphasized the value of community policing and introduced concepts of police legitimacy.
Lauretta spent more than 20 years with the Arlington Texas Police Department where she ascended to the rank of Assistant Chief of Police. The Arlington Police Department, a flagship Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Accreditation (CALEA) agency, is known for its commitment to community policing and for being at the forefront of developing best practices in law enforcement. During her tenure in Arlington, Lauretta was responsible for security operations and command of all special events which included: Super Bowl XLV (2011), NBA All-Star Game (2010), MLB World Series (2010 and 2011), and the NCAA Final Four Men’s Basketball games (2014). In addition, she oversaw and participated in a national discussion on police utilization of small-unmanned aviation system (sUAS) vehicles in urban areas. The Arlington Police Department was the first agency to receive a Certificate of Authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate an sUAS in an urban area.
Lauretta has a Master’s degree from Texas Christian University and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management School, and Cornell University in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion- Building a Diverse Workforce. She is a member of the International Associations of Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), PERF. She’s on the executive board of the University of North Texas Dallas Caruth Police Institute.
Lauretta received the Distinguished Service Award, Officer of the Year Award, a proclamation from the Texas State Senate, Distinguished Alumni Award, and Community Service Award for her commitment to the law enforcement profession.