Bartow, FL – January 10, 2026 – The City of Bartow has appointed Kyle Dowdy and Darrell Wilson as Deputy Chiefs of the Bartow Police Department, according to a press release issued by the city on January 6, 2026.
The appointments followed a national recruitment effort conducted in partnership with Strategic Government Resources (SGR), which attracted 35 applicants from 15 states. After an initial review, a Police Chief Search Committee selected semifinalists who completed questionnaires and pre-recorded video interviews. These candidates underwent interviews by multiple panels, including citizens, department employees, external law enforcement partner agencies, and city leadership. Feedback from the panels identified Dowdy and Wilson as the top candidates, leading to the decision to hire both to support department advancement and community policing initiatives.
The swearing-in ceremony for both Deputy Chiefs is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on January 29, 2026, at Bartow City Hall, located at 450 N. Wilson Ave. Their official start date with the city is January 26, 2026. Both individuals are completing required prescreening in accordance with Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission rules and Florida state statutes.
Kyle Dowdy began his law enforcement career in 2004 and most recently served as Deputy Chief for the Farmington Police Department in New Mexico. His prior roles included positions in Patrol Division, SWAT, Narcotics, Polygraph, Special Operations, Internal Affairs, Use of Force Review Board, Training, and Administration. He serves as a member of the state’s task force for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, liaison to the LGBTQ+ community, and Intelligence Officer for Farmington PD.
Dowdy is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command and the FBI National Academy. He holds a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration from New Mexico State University, a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, graduate certificates in History from Western New Mexico University and Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from New Mexico State University. He teaches history as an adjunct professor at San Juan College and is a military veteran who led combat ground troops during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Dowdy will oversee the Neighborhood Services Bureau, which includes the Uniformed Patrol Division, Neighborhood Liaison Unit, Tactical Team, Traffic Unit, Red-Light Camera Program, Reserve Officer Program, Honor Guard, and K-9 Unit.
Darrell Wilson began his law enforcement career in 1993 and most recently served as Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations for the Florida Department of Financial Services – Criminal Investigations Division. Prior to that, he served with the Plant City Police Department from 1993 to 2009 in the Patrol Division, Investigative Division, and Support Services Division, where he supervised the 9-1-1 Center, Property and Evidence, Records, Extra Duty Management, and Information Services, advancing to the rank of Captain.
Wilson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management and a Master of Science in Management, both from Warner University. He is a graduate of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Senior Leadership Program, Class #11, and currently serves as an Assessor for the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
Wilson, who was born and raised in Bartow, will oversee the Support Services Bureau, which includes the Criminal Investigations Division, Emergency Communications Center, and Support Services Division (encompassing Records, Facilities, Crime Analyst/Crime Prevention, Recruiting/Training, Community Services, Quartermaster, and Body Worn Camera/In-Car Camera Program/Analyst).
Bartow City Manager Mike Herr stated that the selection process identified two qualified leaders who bring necessary experience to the department’s personnel.
Bartow Police Chief Stephen Walker noted that both appointees demonstrate commitment to community engagement, crime reduction, and officer mentoring.
SOURCE: CITY OF BARTOW
