DEA veteran Daniel Comeaux named Dallas Police Chief

DALLAS - Veteran DEA Special Agent and longtime law enforcement officer Daniel Comeaux has been named the new chief of the Dallas Police Department.

What's new:

Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert announced that Daniel C. Comeaux will assume the role of police chief beginning April 23.

He will be formally introduced on April 21.

Who is Daniel Comeaux?

The backstory:

Comeaux brings more than 33 years of law enforcement experience and most recently served as the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Field Division.

In that role, Comeaux oversaw 12 offices across Houston, San Antonio, and Austin—serving more than 116,000 residents in 114 counties, including 645 miles along the U.S.–Mexico border. He was named the Special Agent in Charge four years ago.

He's held federal law enforcement jobs in Arizona, California, Mississippi and Texas.

"I’ve policed in so many different areas. Melting pots from across the United States. Different cultures," Comeaux said during the interview process.

During his tenure, Comeaux’s strategies led to significant reductions in crime, including a 40% decrease in overdose deaths in Laredo, Texas.

Originally from New Orleans, Comeaux began his law enforcement career with the Houston Police Department in 1991.

Comeaux has also highlighted efforts to designate drug cartels as terrorist groups.

What they're saying:

"Special Agent in Charge Comeaux has consistently demonstrated a proven track record of successfully addressing complex crime challenges across large-scale, diverse populations and geographic areas—including internationally," said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. "The City of Dallas continues to achieve crime reduction year after year. I am confident that with SAC Comeaux at the helm, we will continue to be one of the safest large cities in the country while building trust and strengthening our recruitment and retention efforts. I also want to thank Interim Chief Michael T. Igo for his longstanding service and his willingness to lead during this time of transition."

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson added, "Thankfully, Chief Comeaux brings unique experience to this especially challenging role. As a former Houston police officer and a federal commander who has spent years fighting the scourge of illicit drugs like fentanyl in urban neighborhoods and border communities, he understands that public safety is foundational to building stronger cities."

In a statement, Comeaux said, "I joined the police force because I witnessed what can happen to neighborhoods that aren’t safe. At the federal level, I’m known as the local cop because of my collaborative approach to tackling crime and my dedication to developing leaders in public safety who are bridge builders for the community. I’m proud that my career in law enforcement has come full circle, and I look forward to serving alongside the men and women of the Dallas Police Department."

Dallas Police Union on hiring outside candidate

Comeaux was among five finalists in the nationwide search for Dallas' new Chief of Police after Eddie Garcia stepped down to take a job in Austin last October.

The city held forums to allow citizens to meet the candidates.

Dallas interim chief Michael Igo and Assistant Chief Catrina Shead were both internal candidates.

At the forums, Comeaux made the case for hiring someone from the outside.

"The last chief was an outside hire, Chief Garcia, and he did a phenomenal job. So let's circle back and hire another from outside. You get a fresh set of eyes. Someone who owes no favors to anyone, just wants to do a great job, take care of the officers and take care of the citizens," he told FOX 4.

Garcia urged leadership to pick an internal candidate before he left. 

What they're saying:

"We welcome him to Dallas. We do have a lot of work to do. I don't think there's going to be much of a honeymoon phase, per se, because we face a lot of challenges and look forward to sitting at the table with them to help keep the department on the right path," said Dallas Police Association President Jaime Castro. 

An internal DPD candidate has not been hired in the last three chief searches. Castro talked about that.

"It's a difficult question. I think it's a valid question. And I think that it's question that our command staff deserves to have answered. because that is a very valid concern and question," he said.

Proposition U presents challenge for chief

What's next:

The new chief will walk into a unique situation.

Last November, Dallas voters passed Proposition U by a narrow margin. It changed the city charter to require DPD to increase its total rank and file up to 4,000 officers.

Currently, DPD has 3,100.

In February, Dallas City Council agreed on hiring 300 officers in the next fiscal year.

Interim Chief Igo had said that was a more realistic goal. Dallas HERO, the group behind the proposition, has threatened to sue the city for not following the law.

"Here's the bottom line. Can we get to 4,000 one day? Absolutely. We can get there. But what's important is it's done the right way. Just because we have to doesn't mean that we have to give up the quality for quantity. And that is what worries us," said Castro.

When Comeaux was asked about the challenge, he suggested hiring contract officers to assist with staffing shortages.

"You have officers that have retired that still have good gas in the tank that’d be willing to come back for an hourly salary where it won’t mess with their pension," he said.

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