City of Amarillo announces mutual parting agreement with APD Chief Birkenfeld

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - The City of Amarillo has announced a mutual agreement to part ways with Police Chief Martin Birkenfeld.

Birkenfeld has been the Amarillo Police Chief since May of 2020 and has elected to retire effective February 21, 2025.

He has been with the Amarillo Police Department for nearly 35 years.

The City of Amarillo news release states, “Birkenfeld recognizes as a public servant in a leadership role, actions taken in a private capacity can influence confidence in law enforcement.”

The City of Amarillo say they will begin the process of selecting a new Police Chief in the coming weeks.

In the interim, Assistant Police Chief Jimmy Johnson will serve as Acting Police Chief.

The City of Amarillo is currently working on a separation agreement with Amarillo Police Chief Martin Birkenfeld following the surfacing of a letter of support for convicted child sex offender Cole Underwood.

Former Perryton athletic director Cole Underwood was sentenced last week for child sex charges.

After the sentencing, a letter from Chief Birkenfeld surfaced asking Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk to consider Underwood’s “redeeming qualities when assessing his sentence.”

NewsChannel 10 reached out to the City of Amarillo for comment. City officials state Assistant Chief Jimmy Johnson is serving as Acting Chief for APD until further notice.

The agenda states the executive session will “discuss the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee: Chief of Police Martin Birkenfeld.”

NewsChannel 10 has obtained the letter written by Chief Birkenfeld in regards to Cole Underwood:

According to the Amarillo Police Department’s website, APD’s mission statement is “The mission of the Amarillo Police Department is to provide excellent public service and law enforcement to the community, with the goal of keeping Amarillo a safe place to live, work, and play. We embrace the values of Honor, Truth, Integrity, Service, Courage, and Leadership. It is our commitment to maintain the trust of the community, and to consistently take actions that increase the safety of the community. The Department shall provide this service by utilizing best practices in law enforcement, continuous improvement in leadership and professionalism, and partnership with the community.”