Former Austin police chief emerges as finalist to lead Taylor Police Department after chief’s resignation

A leadership transition in a fast-growing Williamson County city

The City of Taylor is nearing a decision on its next police chief after the departure of longtime Chief Henry Fluck, who stepped down in September following more than a decade leading the department. In the interim, Commander Joseph Branson has been serving as interim chief, a move that city materials and public directories list as Taylor’s current leadership arrangement.

City officials have advanced a slate of finalists for the permanent position, a process that includes opportunities for community members to meet candidates and provide feedback. Among those finalists is a former chief of the Austin Police Department, a development that signals Taylor’s willingness to consider high-profile, big-city leadership experience as it confronts the public-safety demands of rapid regional growth.

What the search process has included so far

Taylor’s search has combined recruitment support and public engagement steps designed to surface community priorities for the next chief. Local reporting on the process has described structured community input, including a town-hall format aimed at clarifying what residents expect from department leadership and how the next chief should approach accountability, staffing, and community policing.

As the selection approaches, the city has also scheduled public meet-and-greet events to introduce finalists to residents and stakeholders. The format is intended to allow direct questioning and to give the city additional insight into how each candidate communicates priorities and manages public concerns.

Where Taylor is starting from: interim command and recent changeover

Branson’s interim role has been reflected in city documentation, including public contact materials and departmental activity reports, indicating continuity in day-to-day operations during the search. The permanent hire will inherit a department that has been navigating leadership transition while maintaining routine policing responsibilities and community programming.

Why a former Austin chief’s candidacy stands out

The former Austin police chief in the finalist group previously led Austin’s police department from 2007 to 2016, a tenure that preceded subsequent top roles in other major U.S. cities. The candidate’s inclusion introduces a contrast in backgrounds among contenders: Taylor can choose between experience rooted in the city’s current command structure and outside leadership with a history managing larger agencies and more complex public-safety environments.

• Former Austin leadership experience adds large-agency management credentials to the finalist pool.
• Interim leadership provides an internal continuity option for Taylor as it transitions from Fluck’s tenure.
• Public meet-and-greets are positioned as a key step before a final selection is made.

The city’s next decision will determine whether Taylor prioritizes continuity from within the current command team or a leader with a high-profile background in larger departments.

City officials have not publicly signaled a timeline for a final vote in the materials reviewed, but the finalist stage and scheduled public events indicate the process has moved into its concluding phase.