MYRIAM GONZALEZ
The city of Springtown’s council chambers was filled with the city’s finest — all in attendance to watch one of their own be pinned as chief of police during a ceremonial city council meeting Thursday, Jan. 22.
A meeting that is sometimes filled with routine updates and numbers began with a room filled with pride as the back wall of the room, lined with black-uniformed officers, watched as City Administrator David Miller presented Jamie Oliver as Springtown’s Chief of Police.
“Tonight, sir, is about tradition. It's about service and it's about recognizing the journey of a leader who has earned this moment through commitment, integrity and tireless dedication,” Miller began.
Miller briefed attendees on Oliver’s 10-year history on the force, beginning from the time he was a patrol officer, where his hard work and professionalism didn’t go unnoticed, eventually leading to his next position of investigator. There he took on a variety of criminal cases, earning the respect of his peers along the way as he made it to the rank of sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division. Miller continued, giving a sneak peek into his relationship with Oliver as they worked through a two-turned-three-year mentoring program after the departure of the former police chief in 2022. It was here that Oliver “rolled his sleeves up” and Miller saw that he demonstrated tireless dedication to the department, to his officers and to the city of Springtown.
Miller concluded saying “The road ahead of you, my friend, will not be easy but based on everything you have already shown me and shown this community, I have no doubt that you are more than ready and will be highly successful. Congratulations, Chief. It is an honor to pin you today,” Miller said.
Oliver’s son, Dallas, was present at the ceremony and did the honor of pinning him as Springtown’s newest Chief of Police.
Once the room cleared out, Mayor Mike Kelley continued with other agenda items.
An application was submitted on behalf of the Springtown Animal Emergency Clinic by Van Miller, owner of Elite Signs of Texas, requesting the allowance of a wall sign with better visibility. Two previous attempts for better signage presented challenges such as property lines and poor street visibility. Van Miller carefully detailed explanations as to his request and after little deliberation council was unanimous in its decision to approve it, 5-0.
During the city secretary’s report, City Secretary/Assistant City Administrator Christina Derr presented council members with a detailed outline of future projects and planned events for fiscal year 2026. One of the major city projects is improvements to the city library to include new digital signage, a new mural on the south wall and landscaping. City events in the works also include a huge Fourth of July celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, a new seasonal storefront decorating contest and another new city-wide initiative called Clean Sweep Springtown — “a true community clean up day,” Derr said.
As the new year gets under way, with a slate of projects and events for residents to enjoy, one thing is certain — it will all unfold safely under the leadership of the new police chief.
