David Kunkle began his career in 1972 as a patrol officer with the Dallas Police Department.  Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to sergeant, lieutenant, and captain.  At twenty-eight, Kunkle was the youngest captain in the history of the Dallas Police Department.  In 1982, he was hired as Grand Prairie’s Police Chief where he spent the next three years of his career. 

On January 14, 1985, David Kunkle assumed the duties of Police Chief in Arlington.  The Department became the 128th law enforcement agency in the nation to achieve accredited status through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.  It was re-accredited for another five-year term in November 1994.  In 1996, The Arlington Police Department was selected as one of “America’s Best” police force according to a special report in the November issue of Good Housekeeping magazine.

In March 1999, David Kunkle became a Deputy City Manager in Arlington in charge of the City’s Administration Group. In June 2004, David Kunkle assumed the duties of Police Chief in Dallas, Texas. 

David Kunkle has a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington.  He completed the Program for State and Local Government Officials at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and also the Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston.  In 1992 he completed the Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar at the FBI Academy.

His hobbies include running and reading.