After more than four decades in law enforcement, Anton Police Chief David Kinney is preparing to retire, closing out a dedicated career spent serving communities across West Texas.
While Kinney has served Anton for the past 16 years, his dedication to service truly began more than 50 years ago. Before entering law enforcement, Kinney served in the U.S. Marine Corps after being drafted by the army in 1970, where he was stationed at a helicopter base in California. After his time in the military, Kinney spent about two years working on ranches in California before returning to Texas to spend another 10 years working at the Pitchfork Ranch.
Kinney said that after leaving Pitchfork Ranch, his plan was to work for the cattle association, which at the time required peace officer training, leading him to enroll at the South Plains Association-Governments (SPAG) in Lubbock. After attending the academy, Kinney continued his career in law enforcement, briefly working for the Denver City Police Department before accepting a position with the Hockley County Sheriff ’s Office in Levelland. After spending 26 years as a deputy, he moved to Anton, where he has served for the past 16 years.
Throughout his time in law enforcement, Kinney said his approach to the job was shaped early on by advice he received from his boss when he first started.
“First thing he told me, he says, not everybody needs to be arrested, he says some people just need to be lectured a little bit and maybe taken home if you have to, so I kind of went with that,
See, KINNEY Continued on Page 2 I hardly ever wrote a ticket, if somebody’s doing something bad enough I’ll just take them to jail,” said Kinney.
Having been involved in the community for decades, Kinney said that by the time he began working in Anton, many residents already had his personal number and would call him directly rather than go through dispatch. He said this made communication easier and helped address issues more quickly.
Kinney also noted that crime, particularly burglaries, slowed during his time in Anton, something he attributes in part to the community’s closeness and the relationships he built over the years.
“The burglaries really pretty well slowed way down to nothing after I came home. Everybody knew me, so if somebody stole something, they’d call me, so it worked out pretty good,” said Kinney, adding that Anton has been a great place and community to work in.
Kinney said that deciding to retire ultimately came down to his age and the physical demands of the job.
“I’m 76. I’m getting a little old for this, so I can be overpowered pretty easily now. This is a job for a fit young man, and I’m not there no more,” said Kinney.
Even with the challenges, Kinney said he has enjoyed his time in law enforcement and the opportunity to serve the community.
“It’s been challenging, but I’ve enjoyed it,” said Kinney.
As he steps away from the role, Kinney leaves behind a career spanning generations of change in both law enforcement and the community he served.