Police Administration

Chief of Police Sheryl D. Victorian, PhD

Chief Sheryl Victorian, a native Texan, has dedicated over 31 years to the police profession. After serving nearly 28 years with the Houston Police Department and promoting through the ranks to Assistant Chief, she was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the City of Waco Police Department on March 15, 2021.

Chief Victorian's academic achievements include earning a Doctorate of Philosophy in Administration of Justice from Texas Southern University (2013). Her dedication and service have earned her numerous awards and commendations, including the 2023 Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce “International Athena Leadership” and the 2023 Central Texas African American Chamber of Commerce “Public Servant of the Year” awards. She was also a finalist for the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives’ Woman Law Enforcement Executive of the Year (WoLEEY) award in April 2024.

Chief Victorian has participated in several nationally recognized police leadership programs, including the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy (FBINA), the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) Leadership Inventory for Female Executives (LIFE), the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s (IACP) Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI), and Harvard University’s Leadership for a Networked World program.

Chief Sheryl Victorian is a visionary leader in policing, and she is celebrated for her ability to encourage, inspire, and motivate. Chief Victorian embraces authenticity, fostering self-confidence, and leading with purpose. Her dedication to relational policing emphasizes building trust, understanding, and collaboration within communities and among officers.

Assistant Chief Jared Wallace, Investigations Command

Jared Wallace serves as the Assistant Chief of Police over the Investigations Command at the Waco Police Department. With more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, he brings a strong record of leadership, innovation, and community-focused service.

In his current role, Assistant Chief (AC) Wallace oversees the Criminal Investigations Division, the Special Investigations Division, and the Special Victims Division. He is responsible for guiding strategic decision making, shaping departmental policy, and coordinating with local, state, and federal partners to enhance public safety.

Throughout his career, AC Wallace has led units responsible for several transformative innovations at Waco PD, including the development of nationally recognized crime prevention programs, new models for crisis response and community engagement. He has served in a wide range of assignments, including Patrol, Bicycle Patrol, Neighborhood Policing Unit, SWAT, SAFE Unit, the Criminal Investigations Division, and the Community Services Division. He has also played a central role in advancing officer wellness, data-driven decision making, and collaborative approaches to public safety.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in leadership from Texas A&M University–Commerce. He has completed executive training through the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration School of Executive Leadership and the FBI LEEDA Command Leadership Institute. He is also an original Law Enforcement Community Engagement Network member and a New Blue Policing Solutions Cohort III member.

AC Wallace has received multiple honors, including the Medal of Valor, Life Saving Bar, and Supervisor of the Year, and was a nominee for the Herman Goldstein Awards for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing. He has served as a speaker at state and national conferences and a guest speaker internationally. Beyond his department, Wallace has served locally on boards for the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims & Children, and the Live Oak Classical School Board of Regents, and co-chairs the McLennan County Gang Collaborative.

Assistant Chief Robert Lanning, Patrol Operations Command

Assistant Chief (AC) Robert Lanning has served at the Waco Police Department for 31 years and was promoted to Assistant Chief in 2008.  He graduated with a BBA in management from Baylor University in Waco, Texas and also received a master's degree in criminal justice from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.

AC Lanning is also a graduate of the School of Police Supervision and the Management College at the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration in Plano, Texas and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Policing in Boston, Massachusetts.

In addition to having served as a field training instructor and having taught patrol tactics in the Waco Police Academy, AC Lanning has served in various areas of the Waco Police Department, including patrol, criminal investigations, SWAT and the U.S. Marshals fugitive task force.

AC Lanning has been involved with several community organizations, his church and previously held a position with Tarleton State University as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Criminal Justice and is currently an adjunct faculty member for Baylor University. He has been married for 32 years, has two adult children and enjoys hunting, hiking and scuba diving.

Assistant Chief Marc Norcross, Support Services Command

Assistant Chief (AC) Mark Norcross joined the Waco Police Department in 1983 and has worked in Patrol and Investigations as both a Grade 1 and as a supervisor. He has been a supervisor since 1993 and has managed all the sections of the Department during that time, including CID, DEU, Management Services, and SWAT.

He currently serves as the Assistant Chief over the Support Services Command. AC Norcross was awarded a master’s degree from Tarleton. He has a Masters Peace Officers Certificate and an Instructor’s Certificate from TCOLE. AC Norcross has been awarded 2 Medal of Valor Awards, Life Saving Award, Police Commendation, and Meritorious Unit Award. AC Norcross grew up in the Dallas Metroplex graduating from a DeSoto High School.