Lake Dallas Chief of Police to retire after two decades with the department​on April 11, 2025 at 11:16 pm

LAKE DALLAS, Texas — A North Texas police chief is retiring after more than two decades with his department.

The Lake Dallas Police Department announced Friday that Chief of Police Alan Sawyer will retire effective April 19. According to Lake Dallas PD, Sawyer has been with the department for more than 20 years and has served as chief for the last three years.

“Serving as the Chief of Police for Lake Dallas has been an incredible honor,” Chief Sawyer said in a release from LDPD. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside so many dedicated officers, staff, and community members. Together, we have made significant strides in improving public safety. I am confident the department will continue to thrive, and I look forward to seeing the future success of our team.”

Sawyer’s tenure as chief has involved some controversy. In February 2024, a Lake Dallas detective admitted under oath that he said he’d “slant” his grand jury testimony in favor of one person involved in a fight that led to a shooting at a bar. That same month, a Denton County judge threw out a murder charge filed in Lake Dallas, citing “evidentiary failings.” The DA’s office called the police department’s handling of the case “negligent.” 

Most recently, a sexual assault case was thrown out in March after the department left evidence for the case in an unsecured police storage area.