The City of Victoria has appointed Victoria Police Department Deputy Chief Clay Fetters as interim chief of police, recognizing more than three decades of distinguished service, exemplary leadership and dedication to public safety both in law enforcement and the military.
Fetters’ appointment follows the departure of Chief Young, who leaves Oct. 10.
Fetters has been with VPD since 2008, rising through the ranks in roles that include captain of investigations, SWAT commander, lieutenant of patrol and support services, and most recently, deputy chief of operations. In each position, Fetters has been instrumental in officer development, accountability and operational readiness.
“Clay Fetters has earned the respect of his peers and our community through decades of dedicated service and a proven track record of success,” City Manager Jesús A. Garza said. “I am confident that, as interim chief of police, he lead with integrity, professionalism and a strong commitment to public safety. Working alongside the VPD command staff, Clay will focus on supporting our officers and ensuring a smooth transition as the department prepares to move into our new Public Safety Headquarters.”
Fetters brings to his new role a wealth of leadership experience honed over a 30-year military career, retiring as a major in the Texas Army National Guard in May 2025. Among his command assignments, he led units at Texas Military Department headquarters at Camp Mabry in Austin and Camp Swift in Bastrop, overseeing operations that supported more than 20,000 soldiers annually and managing more than $20 million in equipment.
During his command of an engineer company, his unit was named the best in its battalion and rose from 222nd to ninth out of 242 statewide in performance rankings. He also led life-saving disaster response operations during Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Imelda, coordinating rescues of more than 500 civilians and animals in coordination with local and state leaders.
A graduate of the FBI National Academy (Session 281) and holder of a Bachelor of Arts in social and criminal justice, Fetters also holds a Master Peace Officer certification and has completed more than 12,000 hours of Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) training. Before retiring, he completed Phases One and Two of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and received numerous commendations for his service.
A dedicated mentor and educator, Fetters has served as an adjunct instructor at the Victoria College Police Academy since 2016 and recently developed a four-day command staff leadership course to help cultivate the next generation of law enforcement leaders in the region.
“I’m honored to serve in this capacity and grateful for the trust placed in me,” Interim Police Chief Clay Fetters said. “I look forward to continuing to support our officers and serve the residents of Victoria with integrity, professionalism and respect.”