Joe Loftus

Background

About Joe Loftus

Currently serving as the Specialized Operations Commander where I have the privilege of working with the highly trained, dedicated officers assigned to SWAT, Narcotics, Task Force Officers (TFOs), Bomb Squad, Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement (PACE), Neighborhood Police Officer Unit (NPO), Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), Motors, Hostage Negotiators, Gang Intelligence, and Dive Team. Over the past 20 years, I have diligently served in every significant aspect of policing, including Police Dispatcher, Patrol Officer, Patrol Corporal, Robbery Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Detective Supervisor, Patrol Lieutenant/Watch Commander, and Training Coordinator. While working at the Amarillo Police Department, I attended West Texas A&M University, earned a BS and MA in Criminal Justice, and completed Leadership Command College (LCC) through the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT). I recently graduated from the FBI National Academy (#285) and am currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Fire and Emergency Management Program (FEMP) at Oklahoma State University. I am actively writing a dissertation on the police role when responding to tornados using constructivist grounded theory. I serve the community in my spare time by volunteering in the Amarillo Police Explorer Program and with the Amarillo Downtown Lions Club. I am happily married to a wonderful wife, and we have two incredible daughters together.