Chamber President Jim Foy announces this year’s Citizen of the Year, Police Chief Mike Sullivan. Sullivan has been the police chief for the city of Farmersville for more than 8 years. (Wyndi Veigel/The Farmersville Times)

This year’s Citizen of the Year award was presented to Police Chief Mike Sullivan at the Farmersville Chamber of Commerce’s annual award banquet Saturday, March 30.

“In preparing for this year’s award, I spoke to several people who know the recipient, and they all had great things to say about this person. But perhaps their spouse said it best. And I quote: ‘Mike is a man of impeccable integrity.  He is honest, caring and fair in all situations and with anyone he meets both professionally and personally. I think most would agree that Mike is a pillar of the community. You can bet that wherever he goes, he is an outstanding representative for the city of Farmersville,’” Foy said.

Though he was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he got to Texas as soon as he could at the age of 5. He knew at an early age he wanted to be a police officer and he pursued that calling by joining the Dallas Police Department’s Explorer Program at the age of 15.

In 1983, he was working as a security officer for NorthPark mall while he was a college student and attending the Regional Police Academy.  It was there he met his future wife, Tammy, who was a secretary in the mall office.  After dating for five years, they were married and later had a son, Michael Holman Sullivan.

Sullivan started his career as a police officer 33 years ago in Heath. Three years later he became Deputy Constable in Dallas County Precinct 1. From there he moved to the DeSoto Police Department, where he advanced from officer to sergeant to lieutenant. After 18 years of experience in patrol, internal affairs, and the professional standards unit, he was chosen as Chief of Police in Farmersville, where he has served the community for the last nine years. 

For the complete story see the April 4 edition of The Farmersville Times or subscribe online. 

View the video of the awards presentation below.