Angelina College Celebrates Retirement of Longtime Police Chief

Earlier this month, Angelina College Police Chief Doug Conn announced his retirement from AC. On Tuesday, a retirement ceremony was held in Chief Conn's honor.

Conn, whose law enforcement career has spanned more than 40 years, helped with the academy’s beginnings back in 1993, when Conn served as a training specialist.

In 2017, AC president Dr. Michael Simon named Conn Chief of Police for the inaugural Angelina College Police Department, and from 2018-2021, Conn served as the Regional Police Academy Director. From 2021-2025, Conn added the role of Director of the Angelina College Fire Academy.

According to Simon, one of Conn’s greatest accomplishments while at Angelina College was the concept of “community policing.”

“He was the first police chief AC has ever had, and he set up the whole enterprise, from the hiring all the way to the training,” Simon said. “He helped us take all of this to another level, and he has, without a doubt, made this a safer campus.

“But I talked to Doug about ‘community policing,’ and in my mind, that meant the chief and his officers would develop relationships with the people who work and attend here. He has been incredibly successful in establishing that very idea. We see students interacting with our officers in a positive manner, and I can’t help but think that’s what any community would want from its police department.”

Simon also pointed out how Conn was always willing to take on extra roles – including that of a disc jockey for numerous AC functions.

Kim Capps, AC’s Specialist of Police Department and Public Safety, worked with Conn from his first days as Chief of Police.

“It’s been so awesome and so much fun,” Capps told Conn. “We worked so hard, but we always had fun doing it. I know I speak for all your staff when I tell you, you’re going to be missed terribly.”

Conn will step into a new role with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, and he’ll be working alongside Sheriff Chuck Havard – one of Conn’s Academy cadets in 1994.

Doug Conn (center) poses with members of the Angelina College Police Department and Academy staff during Tuesday’s ceremony.