The Allen police chief is Steve Dye, sworn in on February 1, 2024, as the sixth person to lead the City of Allen’s police department.1Allen Police Department. Office of the Chief He oversees roughly $41.9 million in annual spending and a department organized into four bureaus serving one of Collin County’s fastest-growing suburbs.
Who Steve Dye Is
Dye brought more than 35 years of law enforcement experience to Allen. He started his career in Houston and moved through North Texas agencies in Arlington, Garland, Colleyville, and Grand Prairie before taking the Allen job. He served as an Assistant Chief in Garland, then Chief of Police in Colleyville, and was selected as Chief of the Grand Prairie Police Department in July 2011.2Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. Steve Dye – Professional Bio He eventually retired from Grand Prairie after rising to City Manager, where he oversaw the full municipal operation and roughly 1,900 employees.
His academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and police science from Sam Houston State University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Tarleton State University.2Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. Steve Dye – Professional Bio He has also completed the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police, the LEMIT Command Staff Leadership Series, and the FBI’s Leadership in Counterterrorism program.
How Allen’s Chief Is Appointed
Texas law sets the baseline. Under the Local Government Code, anyone appointed to head a municipal police department must hold at least an intermediate-level certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and must have served as a peace officer for at least five years.3State of Texas. Texas Local Government Code Section 143.013 Cities the size of Allen typically select candidates with command experience well beyond that floor.
The appointment itself works the same way in most Texas cities: the municipality’s chief executive nominates the candidate, and the governing body confirms.3State of Texas. Texas Local Government Code Section 143.013 In Allen, that means the City Manager selects the chief and the City Council confirms. If a chief is removed from the position, the statute provides reinstatement rights back into the department at a rank no lower than the one held before being named chief, preserving seniority. A chief dismissed for cause can appeal through the civil service commission like any other classified employee.
What the Chief Oversees
The Allen Police Department operates on a proposed budget of approximately $41.9 million for fiscal year 2025–2026.4City of Allen. City of Allen FY25-26 Proposed Budget That money covers officer salaries and benefits, patrol vehicles, investigative equipment, training, and technology such as body cameras and records systems. The chief develops the budget proposal and presents it to the City Council each year, justifying resource requests against crime data, call volumes, and staffing needs.
The organization itself is divided into four components: Police Administration, the Field Operations Bureau, the Investigative Services Bureau, and the Special Operations Bureau.5Allen Police Department. About Allen PD Field Operations handles the uniformed work the public sees most: patrol response, traffic enforcement, and emergency calls. Investigative Services picks up complex cases after patrol’s initial response, with detectives covering narcotics, financial crimes, and crimes against persons. Special Operations houses units that fall outside routine patrol or detective work. Police Administration manages internal functions such as records, dispatch coordination, and open records requests.
Specialized units sit within those bureaus. The K-9 Unit, part of Patrol Services, has an authorized strength of three handler-and-canine teams using dual-purpose dogs trained in both narcotic detection and patrol work.6Allen Police Department. K-9 Unit The School Resource Officer program, a joint effort with Allen Independent School District, places two sergeants and 11 officers across Allen High School, Lowery Freshman Center, middle schools, and elementary campuses; those officers remain under police department supervision rather than the district’s.7Allen Police Department. School Resource Officers
Filing a Complaint About an Officer
The department’s Internal Affairs Unit investigates allegations of employee misconduct, inspects operations, and verifies that officers follow departmental policy.8Allen Police Department. Accountability and Transparency If you believe an officer behaved improperly, you can file a formal complaint through the “Report an Employee” portal on the department’s Accountability and Transparency page.
Officers in Texas also hold a license issued by TCOLE, and an adult Class A misdemeanor conviction or court-ordered community supervision is a lifetime disqualification from peace officer licensure. A chief is subject to that same state-level consequence on top of any local discipline.
Contacting the Allen Police Department
Headquarters is located at 205 W. McDermott Drive, Allen, TX 75013. Call 214-509-4200 for administrative inquiries, or 214-509-4321 for non-emergency dispatch when you need an officer but there is no emergency.9City of Allen. Allen Police Department Headquarters For emergencies, call 911.
Police reports and other public documents can be requested in writing through the department’s records office under the Texas Public Information Act; your request should identify the specific records you need and include your contact information.10Allen Police Department. Open Records Requests