Chief of Police Michael Medders was born and raised in Tyler, Texas. He is a 1984 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School. After high school, Medders attended Tyler Junior College with a major in Criminal Justice. In 1990 at age 24, he obtained his first job in law enforcement with the Palestine Texas Police Department.

As a police cadet, he attended the East Texas Police Academy where he became class valedictorian. In 1992, he was selected as the Palestine Police Department Officer of the Year. During his 15+ year career with the Palestine Police Department, he served as patrolman, corporal, patrol sergeant, assistant commander of the Dogwood Trails Narcotics Task Force, assistant chief of police, and interim chief of police. While serving as assistant commander of the Dogwood Trails Narcotics Task Force, Medders was presented with an award from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for his work that culminated in the arrest of 29 persons and the seizure of over $300,000 in assets during a major cocaine trafficking investigation.

In October of 2005 he was selected as the chief of police at the University of Texas at Tyler, a position in which he still serves. Medders is a 1999 graduate of the University of Texas at Tyler, graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and is working toward a graduate degree. Medders holds a Master peace officer license through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, as well as a police instructor license. Medders was named as the University of Texas System Police Chief of the Year for 2015, and in 2018 Medders received the National Society of Leadership and Success Excellence in Service Award, two honors he is very proud of.

Outside of work, Medders enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, bowling, and motorcycle riding. Medders has 5 children ranging from age 17 to 34. The younger three were adopted by Medders and his wife as babies through the Texas Department of Child Protective Services. One is now a senior in high school, one is a member of the United States Air Force, and the other will graduate from the University of Texas at Tyler in the spring of 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Medders’s two older children reside outside of Tyler and both have successful careers. Medders is also a grandfather of three.