In a decision that surprised even Daniel Franklin, the Willow Park City Council came out of executive session Tuesday, June 13, and announced they were promoting Franklin to the position of police chief. He had held the job on an interim basis since Carrie Ellis retired and left the area in late March.
Many considered Franklin the front runner and figured he'd end up getting the position - but not for a little while longer.
"Last I heard they were scheduling interviews for a couple weeks," Franklin said. "It's all pretty much still a shock.
"I'm grateful the council and mayor had faith in me to continue to run the department."
Franklin also previously had the title of interim chief in Jacksonville, where he was on the force for 20 years before coming to Willow Park in 2018 as assistant chief.
"We had some quality candidates, but the continuity, I think, is important," Willow Park Mayor Doyle Moss said. "He's stepped up. He's very qualified, very professional, has good communication with his patrolmen and staff.
"Everybody felt like he was the best guy. It was unanimous."
A committee was previously formed by the city to look at and consider each candidate, including Franklin.
"I'm very pleased to finally take the interim tag off of Chief Franklin's title," Willow Park City Manager Bryan Grimes said. "He is a career officer who has earned this appointment and I am hard-pressed to think of anyone else more deserving."
Franklin and his wife Karla live in Weatherford. They have four children, 19-year-old daughter Kaitlyn, 8- and 7-year-old sons Daniel Jr. and Jackson, and 5-year-old daughter Amelia.
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