Tarrick McGuire, currently the Assistant Chief of Police in Arlington, Texas, has been named the new Alexandria Chief of Police effective Nov. 25.

City Manager Jim Parajon announced the appointment, praising McGuire’s accomplishments in Texas. Parajon also came to Alexandria in 2022 after serving as City Manager in Arlington, Texas, and announced the selection of McGuire following a nationwide search.

“It is vital that our public safety leadership possesses the expertise and vision to implement effective interventions that safeguard our residents,” Parajon said. “Chief McGuire is a proven leader who will continue to lead our police in effectively serving our community.”

McGuire succeeds former Chief Don Hayes, who stepped down in early 2024. Assistant Chief Raul Pedroso will continue serving as Interim Chief of Police until McGuire formally begins his new role.

“I am honored and grateful to accept the position of Police Chief of the Alexandria Police Department,” McGuire said in a statement. “I believe in a community-oriented approach to policing, building public trust through transparency, and emphasizing communication and collaboration.”

Prior to his role as Assistant Chief of the Arlington, Texas Police Department, McGuire served as Deputy Chief since 2018 and has 11 years of command-level experience. During his tenure, he spearheaded the creation of Mentoring Arlington Youth, a multidisciplinary program that significantly reduced crime rates and garnered national recognition from the Department of Justice's COPS Office as a model for 21st Century Policing.

In his various positions within the Arlington, Texas Police Department, a department of 900 employees, McGuire accumulated specialized experience in patrol, investigations and community relations. In 2016, he was appointed as an IACP Law Enforcement Fellow for the National 21st Century Policing Reform initiative. In 2020, he was appointed to the Council on Police Reform and Race by the National Police Foundation (now the National Policing Institute) in Washington, D.C., and previously served as chairperson of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Committee.

In 2022, he was inducted into the Evidence-Based Policing Hall of Fame. As a Fellow here in Alexandria, he collaborated with police departments nationwide, the Department of Justice, and the Obama Administration to implement the recommendations of the 21st Century Task Force on Policing.

McGuire holds a Doctorate in Public Administration from California Baptist University, an M.A. from Criswell College, and a B.A. from Oklahoma State University, where he played football for the Cowboys.

“I look forward to working alongside our dedicated officers, community leaders, and residents to create a safer Alexandria for everyone,” McGuire said. “I am excited to begin this journey together.”