HOPE WARRIOR GALA

Chief Jeffrey Yarbrough is a police chief, author, speaker, U.S. Army veteran, and public servant with more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, investigations, school safety, and organizational leadership. He served with the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Desert Storm, an experience that helped shape his commitment to public service, resilience, discipline, and standing with others in difficult moments.

He currently serves as a police chief and is the owner of a consulting company that specializes in the areas of school safety and private investigations. He previously served as the inaugural Chief of Police for two school district police departments. His career also includes service as an Assistant City Manager, Senior Investigator for the State Bar of Texas, Sergeant in the Criminal Prosecution Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office, and investigator in the Public Integrity Unit of the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. In those roles, Jeffrey handled complex and sensitive matters involving attorney misconduct, public integrity, governmental accountability, major felony cases, murder investigations, and high-profile capital murder cases.

Jeffrey received the 2022 State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Award for Professional Achievement and a Texas Senate proclamation recognizing his contributions to public safety. He was also honored by Texas A&M University with the Outstanding Alumni-Early Career Award for his Four Pillars of School Safety and Policing model, becoming the first police officer to receive that honor.

He holds a master’s degree in Educational Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University, a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Brownsville, and is a Certified Public Manager through Arizona State University. He is the author of two books, including the bestselling academic textbook Redefining School Safety and Policing: A Transformative Four Pillar Model, published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis, one of the world’s most respected academic publishers.

While Jeffrey’s career has long centered on truth, accountability, and the pursuit of justice, those principles became even more personal after his own family experienced the devastating impact of toxic mold in their newly built home. That experience gave him a deeper understanding of how overwhelming it can be when families are forced to fight for answers, accountability, peace of mind, and the protection of their health.

Jeffrey believes that rising tides lift all boats. When one family finds the courage to speak up, it can give others the strength to do the same. When one person shares what they have learned, another family may be spared from the same hardship. And when communities come together around awareness, prevention, and accountability, the impact reaches far beyond one home, one family, or one story.

His message is rooted in the belief that truth should never be silenced, and that justice should not depend on who has the loudest influence or the most resources. Justice should be available to families who deserve advocacy during tragedy, a fair process during despair, and a path toward healing.