Candidate Spotlight: Chief Lowell Cannaday

Dallas County Sheriff

Lowell Cannaday, a life long Texan earned his B.A. in philosophy, from Baylor University.

After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he began his professional law enforcement career in the 1960’s with the Dallas Police Department where he advanced quickly through the ranks and retired as Assistant Chief of Police in 1994 after a distinguished career.  For over three quarters of his career with the department he served in command level positions with assignments including Field Operations, Special Operations, Traffic, Public Information, Planning and Research and Youth and Family Crimes.  In these assignments Chief Cannaday created the Dallas Gang Unit, managed the development of the Children’s Advocacy Center, and directed the Total Quality Management and Long Range Strategic Plan. He also served as the DPD’s Labor Relations Liaison.

In August 1994, Chief Cannaday assumed command of the Irving Police Department, an organization of 300 plus police officers and 100 civilians, serving a city of 195,000 citizens at the time.  In response to the growing incidence of family abuse and crime, he formed the Irving Domestic Violence Unit and later secured funds for and oversaw the construction and dedication of the Irving Family Advocacy Center.

He co-founded the Irving Police Foundation (IPF) and guided the development of the Annual Irving Police Awards Banquet, honoring excellence in police work by the members of the Irving Police Department.  He has served on the Boards of the Irving/Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, the Irving Family Advocacy Center, the Irving Police Foundation, the Irving Infant Intervention Center and Crossroads Interfaith Ministries.

During his combined 40 plus years of law enforcement service Chief Cannaday received over 2500 hours of professional law enforcement training, and is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy and the Command and Management College of the Institute of Law Enforcement Administration. He holds certifications in Basic and Advanced Mediation Training, Transformative Mediation and Arbitration and is a member of the State Bar of Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Section.

After his tenure as Police Chief in Irving he and his wife, Irving City Councilwoman Rose Cannaday founded Cannaday and Associates Mediation Services.  Additionally, Chief Cannaday consults for LETN, LEMS and AccuChem Labs. In June 2005 Chief Cannaday was elected to the Irving City Council, Place 5. He resigned that position to run for Dallas County Sheriff.

Chief Cannaday is known for his measured approach to law enforcement management and calm demeanor in rank and file command.  His leadership qualities set him apart on many levels and are known throughout North Texas law enforcement communities. “He is a born leader.” Glenn White, long time president of the Dallas Police Association told the Dallas Morning News when the Association made their historic early and full endorsement of Chief Cannaday in the fall of 2007 for this year’s Republican primary and general election campaign. 

Associations:

  • Former Board Member, East Dallas Chamber of Commerce
  • Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce
  • Irving/Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce (Chair, Leadership Irving, for four years)
  • Former Board Member Irving Infant Intervention Center
  • Crossroads Interfaith Ministries
  • Irving Family Advocacy Center
  • Co-founder, Irving Police Foundation

Awards and Recognitions:

  • Community Service Awards from:
    • Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce
    • Irving/Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
    • Irving Academy of Community Services
  • Rookie of the Year, 1967
  • Certificate of Merit
  • Police Commendation Award
  • Meritorious Conduct Award
  • Oversaw construction of the Police North service Center
  • Opened four community police storefronts
  • Recipient of Motorola’s “Weber Seavy Award for the Irving Family Advocacy Center (1st runner up)
  • Officer of the Year – N.A.A.C.P., 2000

Business, professional, political activities:

  • Cannaday & Associates Mediation Service (Partner)
  • Law Enforcement Management Services (consultant)
  • Accu-Chem Labs (consultant)
  • Chief of Police, Irving, Texas 1994 – 2004
  • Dallas Police Department, 1966 – 1994
  • Irving City Councilman, 2005 –    
  • Candidate, Dallas County Sheriff, Republican primary run-off 89% victory over former Dallas County sheriff, Jim Bowles. 

Campaign website: www.lowellcannaday.com
Campaign address: P.O. Box 192741, Dallas, Texas 75219 

Law enforcement endorsements for 2008 General Election:

  • Dallas County Sheriff’s Association (Sheriff’s employees)
  • Latino Peace Officer’s Association (Sheriff’s employees)
  • Asian Peace Officer’s Association (Sheriff’s employees)
  • Dallas Police Association
  • Dallas Fraternal Order of Police
  • Irving Police Association
  • Irving Fraternal Order of Police
  • Dallas County Police Association (college campus police)
  • Mesquite Police Association 
  • Grand Prairie Police Association
  • De Soto Police Association
  • Wylie Police Association
  • Sheriff J.E. Bill Decker Deputy Association
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners 

Chief Cannaday’s Vision for Dallas County Sheriff’s Department:

“My vision for the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department is to provide Dallas County with the outstanding sheriff’s department it deserves.  Counties all across America have successful, efficient operations without the embarrassment of lost inmates, inadequate medical care and critical staffing shortages resulting in a poor department reputation. Morale must be improved. I will create an atmosphere of teamwork and provide the technical and administrative resources and solutions necessary for a successful well-managed organization. I have 40 years of law enforcement experience doing just this. An operationally sound strategic plan, complimented by an equally sound vision-based budget will be built at the hands of proud and competent Dallas County deputies and DSO staffers. Communication, both internal and external, will be our hallmark. Transparency will be front and center. I will be on the job daily concentrating on correcting current problems and preventing further ones.  The Sheriff runs the jail and the County Commissioner’s fund it. I will work closely and diligently with the Commissioners to secure proper and adequate funding, pass inspections, and keep track of criminals. I look forward to serving the citizens of Dallas County in this important and vital office.”