Director outlines plan, budget and timeline to establish a Lucas Police Department

Director of Public Safety Doug Kowalski presented the council with a phased plan to create a city-operated Lucas Police Department, saying the move would provide ‘Lucas‑centric’ community policing, local accountability and operational flexibility. Kowalski said the city would register the new agency with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCO), appoint a licensed chief and training coordinator, and adopt model policies drawn from Texas Police Chiefs Association templates.

Kowalski said the initial staffing model would be eight commissioned officers — four patrol officers, two sergeants, an assistant chief and the chief — with lateral hires (already TCO‑licensed) used to avoid months of academy training for new recruits. He described mandatory background checks, psychological and drug screening, and ongoing training requirements, including 40 hours of mandated training every two years and active‑shooter and de‑escalation curricula.

“Community‑oriented policing — beat cops who know the neighborhood — is the aim,” Kowalski said, describing priorities such as traffic enforcement, school visits and presence at community events.

Kowalski proposed a budget estimated at about $1.3 million (submitted for TCO review at $1.5 million) for the initial fiscal year and said staffing levels, shift patterns and overtime would be evaluated once call loads are measured. He recommended adoption of a body‑worn camera policy and noted accreditation as a target to align policies with best practices and reduce risk with the municipal risk pool.

Council members asked how the agency’s timeline would fit with TCO review. Kowalski said he had discussed the schedule with the regional TCO director and expected the review and paperwork to fit the proposed milestones, while warning the council the process includes precise administrative requirements.

Kowalski told the council Lucas would not operate its own jail and would rely on partner agencies (including Wylie and Collin County) for confinement and mutual‑aid arrangements. He also described records‑management, criminal justice information security and mutual‑aid membership as implementation items.

Resident Daryl Shulman, who stated his name and address during public comment, said the staffing numbers looked thin for continuous 24/7 coverage and questioned whether the proposed budget would hold up; Kowalski responded that supervisory staff would also answer calls initially, that shift structures can be adjusted to ensure coverage, and that he would return with recommendations if staffing proved insufficient.

The council did not take a vote on establishing the department at the meeting; Kowalski said he would return with ordinances, policies and any required agreements as the implementation proceeds.