New Athens Chief of Police Chad Allen was sworn in at the Athens City Council meeting Monday.
Allen will officially begin in his new position on Monday, Oct. 16. He takes over from Interim Chief Thomas Williams.
Chief Allen comes to Athens from the Keller Police Department where he was most recently a Captain and Operations Commander. He started his law enforcement career in the Keller PD in 2006.
In his role as Operations Commander, Chief Allen was in charge of the patrol division, criminal investigations division, traffic division, and school resource officers.
“In all these areas, I continue to uphold a dedication to excellence through leading by example, mentoring leaders, and innovating solutions to accomplish our mission in an everchanging public service environment,” he said.
“I am very excited that Chief Allen and his family have joined Athens,” said Mayor Aaron “Bubba” Smith. “He is going to be a great asset for the City and I look forward to working with him.”
Before entering law enforcement, Chief Allen was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army where he served for eight years. While in the military, he coordinated and led more than 100 combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Through my career in the U.S. Army and as a Texas peace officer with the City of Keller, I have developed a strong passion for serving others,” Chief Allen said.
In addition to his military experience and time with the Keller PD, Allen also earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington, graduate certificates in both Public Budgeting/Financial Management and Criminal Justice Education. He is a graduate from the FBI National Academy and Senior Management Institute for Police.
Chief Allen is married with three children.
The Athens City Council and Mayor Aaron “Bubba” Smith proclaimed Saturday, Oct. 14 as Yes You Can-cer Vive Day in Athens.
The proclamation highlighted members of Just Us Guys Inc. A group which celebrates survivors of cancer and works to support those are fighting all forms of cancer within Athens.
Cancer will take an estimated 609,820 lives in the United States this year with an estimated 1,958,310 new cases diagnosed in 2023.
The Council also approved the reappointment of Danny Tidmore to the Athens Economic Development Board of Directors
Brady Autry, Jeff Whitnah, and Mark Vehslage were appointed to the Athens Economic Development Board to fill three vacancies.
The council approved a resolution authorizing City Manager Elizabeth Borstad to amend the Fiscal Year 2023 Tourism Development Grant Agreement with the Athens Chamber of Commerce.
The Council approved a motion authorizing the City Manager to establish Recruit I and Recruit II positions in the Athens Police Department.
The designations of Recruit I and Recruit II allows for pay and experience differentiations when seeking recruits according to established Civil Service requirements.
A resolution authorizing the City Manager to utilize the Law Enforcement Training Reimbursement Agreement was tabled. The council is seeking more information before acting on this item.
A resolution authorizing the City Manager to terminate the existing agreement with Silsbee Ford Inc. was tabled.
The action pertains to an agreement for the purchase of two police patrol vehicles that were purchased in the previous fiscal year.
Due to supply chain issues delays and increased cost the council is considering cancelling the current agreement and entering into a new agreement seeking the purchase of five patrol vehicles total.
The Athens City Council meets regularly in the Civic Hall, Room 216 of the Cain Center, 915 S. Palestine Street, Athens.
