City Names Daniel Comeaux as New Dallas Chief of Police

Daniel Comeaux, a 33-year law enforcement veteran who began his career with the Houston Police Department before rising through the ranks of South Texas’ Drug Enforcement Agency branch, has been named the next chief of the Dallas Police Department.

His first day will be April 23.

“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 – that span internationally,” said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert in a statement. “The City of Dallas continues to achieve crime reduction year after year. I am confident with SAC Comeaux at the helm, we will continue to be one of the safest large cities in the country, while building trust, and bolstering our recruitment and retention efforts.

Comeaux joined the DEA in 1997, and led operations focused on violent crime and drug trafficking in Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles. In 2021, he was named Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Houston Division, overseeing 12 field offices across 118,000 square miles of South, Central and East Texas and 645 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. He is credited for helping to achieve a 40% reduction in overdose deaths in Laredo during his tenure as special agent in charge.

In a public meet-and-greet with the five semi-finalists for Dallas’ police chief position, Comeaux stressed the importance of building trust between the Dallas community and the police department by going “old school” and emphasizing the need for patrol officers to embed themselves in the community they serve.

“I joined the police force because I witnessed what can happen to neighborhoods that aren’t safe. At the federal level, I am 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 am proud that my career in law enforcement has come full circle and look forward to serving alongside the men and women of the Dallas Police Department," Comeaux said in a statement.

While his last 28 years have been spent in drug enforcement, Comeaux told the Observer he would take over the chief role in support of Dallas’ recently passed marijuana decriminalization measure, despite challenges from Texas Att. Gen. Ken Paxton.

Comeaux’s naming as police chief means two internal DPD candidates were passed over for the job: Michael Igo, who has served as interim police chief since October 2024, and Catrina M. Shead, a 30-year department veteran who serves as assistant chief. In her statement, Tolbert thanked Igo for his service to the department and his "willingness to lead during this time of transition.”