Promotions at the Palestine PD

PALESTINE – Palestine Police Chief Andy Harvey has announced the promotion of three officers in the department. They will fill vacant positions, including administrative positions. Gary Rayford has been promoted to Assistant Chief, Mark Harcrow has been promoted to Captain and Detective David Kassaw has been promoted to Sergeant. All three officers will begin their duties immediately.

Rayford began his career as a Corrections Officer in 1994 and stayed in this capacity until 1998 when he joined the Shreveport, Louisiana Police Department as a Patrol Officer. After a stint there, Rayford went to work at the Baltimore City, Maryland Police Department for a short time before moving back to Texas. Rayford then joined the Palestine Police Department in 2006 and has served as a Patrol Officer, Patrol Corporal, Detective Corporal, Dispatch Supervisor, Recruiter, Background Investigator, Training Coordinator, Field Training Officer, Field Training Program Coordinator and Patrol Sergeant.

Harcrow, a 2006 graduate of Palestine High School, began his law enforcement career with the Palestine Police Department in 2009. Since then, he has worked as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer and supervisor in the Patrol Division. Harcrow went on to work as a Corporal Detective in the Criminal Investigations Division. Harcrow has also served as the Palestine City Marshal.

Det. David Kassaw has been promoted to Sergeant. David Kassaw began his career with the Palestine Police Department in 1999. Kassaw worked as a Patrol Officer and Field Training Officer in the Patrol Division. In 2010, Kassaw was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division as a Detective and promoted to Corporal Detective in 2014. As Sergeant Detective, Kassaw will serve as division commander of the Criminal Investigations Division.