Dallas swears in new police and fire chiefs at joint ceremony

Dallas formally presented badges to Daniel Como as police chief and Justin Ball as chief of Dallas Fire Rescue at a joint swearing-in ceremony held at Concord Church on Oct. 26, 2025.

The event brought city officials, clergy and uniformed personnel together to mark the chiefs' assumption of duties. Mayor Eric L. Johnson opened the ceremony and cited recent public-safety progress, saying, “this year alone, violent crime has fallen more than 12% citywide with homicides down an astonishing 44%.”

The ceremony included prayers, musical performances and remarks from elected officials. City Manager Kimberly Beiser Tolbert told the audience that the public ceremony was a celebration after the chiefs had already been officially sworn in at City Hall a few weeks earlier. “Both of our new chiefs were officially sworn in at City Hall just a few weeks ago. So tonight is a celebration,” Tolbert said.

Justin Ball — introduced by Tolbert as bringing nearly 28 years of experience in the department — was sworn in by Judge Sarah Martinez. Ball recounted his personal path to firefighting, said he had led the department as interim chief for nearly a year and laid out priorities for the department’s culture and service. “Serve with humility, lead with integrity, and don't forget my journey to get here,” Ball said.

Daniel Como was sworn in by Judge Dale Tillery. Como, whom Tolbert described as arriving in Dallas with 33 years in law enforcement at local and federal levels, told attendees he planned to “look, listen, and learn” immediately upon taking the post and to work with community partners and other law enforcement agencies. “I plan on immediately look, listen, and learn,” Como said. He also described continuing operations such as a fugitive team he called Operation Justice Trail.

Giovanni Catanzaro, deputy regional director for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, read letters of congratulations from the senator that were addressed to both chiefs. Clergy offered invocations and benedictions; clergy participating included Pastor Jacob de Casa, Rabbi Andrew Paley, Pastor Brian L. Carter and Rabbi David Stern. A student and community musical programbookended the ceremony.

City leaders framed the event as part celebration and part public-commitment to continued reductions in violent crime and to departmental leadership. Council Member Kara Mendelson, chair of the Dallas City Council Public Safety Committee, said the new chiefs would play critical roles across all neighborhoods and emphasized expectations that both leaders sustain reductions in violent crime.

The city manager and elected officials repeatedly tied public-safety work to recent budget and capital decisions. Johnson credited data-driven strategies and investments through the 2024 bond program and the annual city budget for recent public-safety improvements.

The ceremony concluded with photographs and a reception in the church lobby.