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Lucas council hears plan to create city police department; director outlines staffing, budget and timeline
Summary
Director of public safety Doug Kowalski presented a plan to stand up a Lucas Police Department, proposing an eight‑person startup (including lateral hires), model policies, TCO registration and a first‑year budget in the $1.3–1.5 million range, with operational readiness targeted by fall 2026.
Doug Kowalski, the city’s newly chosen director of public safety, told the Lucas City Council on Feb. 19 that the city can move from contract policing by the Collin County Sheriff’s Office to a locally controlled Lucas Police Department in stages, and outlined staffing, legal and budget steps.
Kowalski, introduced to the council as the director of public safety, said the move would emphasize community‑oriented “beat” policing and local accountability. “You get to determine exactly what you need, when you need it,” he said, describing advantages such as adjusted shifts for events and closer school engagement.
He walked council through the legal steps…
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