Brent Brown officially took command of the Prosper Police Department on Tuesday, July 28, becoming the town's first new police chief in 12 years.

Mayor David Bristol administered the oath of office at the Town Council's 6:15 p.m. regular meeting at Prosper Town Hall, according to the council agenda. The Celina Police Department confirmed on Facebook that Brown was officially sworn in.

Brown, a Prosper resident with more than 24 years of law enforcement experience, most recently served as assistant chief of police for the City of Celina. He began his career in Paris, Texas, in 2002, according to the Celina Record's post on X.

He replaces Doug Kowalski.

Kowalski led the department for 12 years before retiring on February 13. Interim Chief Ken Meyers handled day-to-day operations between Kowalski's departure and Brown's swearing-in, Star Local Media reported in June.

The leadership change comes as the department has grown dramatically. When Kowalski arrived in January 2014, the force had 14 officers and six dispatchers. It now employs nearly 100 public servants, according to the town's announcement of Kowalski's retirement in January. The department earned the Texas Police Chiefs Association Best Practices Accreditation three times during Kowalski's tenure.

"Chief Kowalski has been a steady, trusted leader during a period of tremendous growth in Prosper," Mayor Bristol said in January when the retirement was announced. "His commitment to professionalism, accountability and community trust has helped shape a Police Department our residents can be proud of."

Other council action

The July 28 agenda also included a consent item to authorize the town manager to execute a $308,800 professional engineering services agreement with Teague Nall and Perkins, Inc. for the design of the Legacy Drive road project between Star Trail and Legacy Middle School.

The council held a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Unified Development Code affecting the Dallas North Tollway District. The changes would address dual-brand hotel standards, Commercial District setback regulations, landscape and open space criteria, parking requirements, and jellyfish-style lighting rules.

A separate consent item proposed repealing sections of Chapter 12, "Traffic and Vehicles," covering duties previously reassigned to the town manager by an ordinance adopted February 10.

Official meeting minutes confirming final votes on these items had not been posted as of Tuesday evening. Residents can view the full agenda packet on the Town of Prosper meetings page.