Chief of Police

Chief Sheryl Victorian

Sheryl D. Victorian, PhD

Sheryl Victorian is a native Texan and a 28-year law enforcement professional. She was sworn in as the City of Waco’s Chief of Police on March 15, 2021, after serving with the Houston Police Department for 28 years. Chief Victorian retired from the Houston Police Department as an Assistant Chief of the Patrol Region 2 Command, where she was responsible for the Clear Lake, Southeast, South Central, Eastside, and Downtown Patrol Divisions, as well as the Vehicular Crimes Division. Her law enforcement experience includes assignments in the Major Offenders, Homicide, Special Victims, Internal Affairs, Training and the South Central and Southeast Patrol Divisions.

Chief Victorian has earned many awards and commendations for her service and dedication as a police professional. She was recognized as the 100 Club of Houston’s “Rookie Officer of the Year” in 1995, and earned a Life Saving Award, an Award of Excellence, Chief Unit Citations, and many Citizen and Chief of Police commendations. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Texas Southern University, a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston – Downtown, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Administration of Justice from Texas Southern University.

Chief Victorian is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy (FBINA) session #267, a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) scholar, and a current fellow of American Leadership Forum’s class XLVII (47). She is also a Discover Leadership Master Graduate of class #252 and has been selected to participate in the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), session #81, in July of 2021. Chief Victorian has also participated in several other nationally recognized professional development and leadership programs. Chief Victorian is an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University where she teaches Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice, Ethics, and the Graduate Capstone course.

In her spare time, Chief Victorian is a playwright, and enjoys traveling, mentoring, teaching, and spending time with her family.