08/20/2026
So proud of LAC alum and former board member, Erick Bohannon! Amarillo is in good hands with this phenomenal leader!
At a promotion ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, Amarillo Police Department Chief Thomas Hover announced a new assistant chief of police and a new position he added as part of organizational restructuring. Hover also recognized the promotion of three corporals to sergeant.
Former Assistant Chief Jimmy Johnson retired at the end of April, and Hover said the promotion process to fill that position began in May. After several meetings with candidates, including eight-hour panel interviews, Hover selected Capt. Erick Bohannon for the role.
Bohannon has served APD for almost 34 years in nearly every department. He was most recently captain of the patrol division. Bohannon was the first to participate in a new tradition of repeating the swearing-in oath done at the start of an officer’s career.
Bohannon thanked his family for their support and credited his wife, Shelly Bohannon, executive director of the Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center. “I’ve been married to the best.”
Bohannon said he spent years working in SWAT and the narcotics division, giving him experience in high-risk operations and critical incidents. He also spent eight years in special crimes, now called the homicide division, where he learned innovative investigation techniques.
Read more here: https://amarillotribune.org/2026/08/19/amarillo-police-department-welcomes-new-assistant-chief-erick-bohannon/
