James Pierson is a law enforcement veteran of over 30 years and served as Chief of Police beginning in October of 2014.

Starting his career as a patrolman at HPD in 1989, he followed that with stints as patrol sergeant, detective, and patrol captain before being promoted to Deputy Chief of Police in 2007. Pierson served in that position until he was named as Chief. Pierson retired in July of 2017 to take a more active role in training.

Pierson has a passion for training, and has served as the Texas Police Association Regional Training Director, as well as sitting on the Advisory Board of the East Texas Regional Police Academy. Pierson has served on multiple committees with TCOLE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement), developing statewide courses over the past ten years.