Chief Gerke joined the Odessa Police Department in 1997. During his career at the Odessa Police Department, Chief Gerke has been a Patrolman, a Field Training Officer,
a Property Crimes Detective, a Persons Crime Detective, a Robbery and Homicide Detective, a Patrol Sergeant, a Professional Standards Investigative Sergeant, a Patrol
Lieutenant, a Criminal Investigations Lieutenant, the Professional Standards Captain, the Operations Bureau Deputy Chief and now the Chief of Police. Chief Gerke was, at
various times, a member of the Odessa Police Department’s SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiations Team.

Chief Gerke has an Associate’s Degree from Odessa College, a Bachelor’s Degree from Midwestern State University and a Master’s Degree from Tarleton State University.
He has also completed the Northwestern State University’s School of Police Staff and Command, the Federal Bureau Of Investigations Law Enforcement Executive
Development Program, and the Police Executive Research Forums Senior Management in Policing program. Chief Gerke holds the Master Police Officer
certification through the State of Texas and is a certified Law Enforcement Trainer. He serves on several community advisory and governing boards and is a past member of
the Advisory Board of the Carruth Police Institute at the University of North Texas- Dallas. Chief Gerke if the Region 4 Director for the Texas Police Chiefs Association.
Chief Gerke is a 2023 recipient of The Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Presidential Award for the Odessa Police Departments work in overturning a wrongful
conviction that occurred in the early 1980s.