After nearly 50 years in law enforcement, Prosper Police Chief Doug Kowalski is retiring.
Kowalski’s final day leading the Prosper Police Department will be February 13, officials announced. The department plans to announce more information about interim leadership and the transition plan “soon.”
“It has been an honor to serve a community that shows such unwavering support for its public safety personnel,” Kowalski said in a press release.
Kowalski worked in law enforcement for 49 years and served as Prosper police chief for 12 years.
“Do what is right, do the best you can, and treat other people the way you would like to be treated,” he said. “There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary people are called upon to meet.”
The Dallas Express reached out to Kowalski and Assistant Police Chief Scott Brewer, but did not hear back in time for publication.
“Chief Kowalski has been a steady, trusted leader during a period of tremendous growth in Prosper,” Mayor David Bristol said in the release. “His commitment to professionalism, accountability, and community trust has helped shape a police department our residents can be proud of.”
Kowalski began his career in law enforcement with the New York City Police Department in 1975, according to the release. Then, he joined the Dallas Police Department, where he worked his way up to deputy chief. He transferred to the McKinney Police Department, where he served as chief.
Kowalski was appointed interim chief of the Prosper Police Department on January 6, 2014. He was later appointed chief of police.
During Kowalski’s tenure with the department, he led officers through a time of “rapid growth and modernization,” according to the release.
When he first joined in 2014, Prosper’s population was less than 14,500, and the department had 14 officers and six dispatchers. At the beginning of 2025, Prosper’s population was more than 46,000, and Kowalski had grown the department to nearly 100 “public servants.”
Prosper police now have a criminal investigations division, competitive pay, a formal supervisor structure, special police and fire districts, and a new police station.
Kowalski helped lead the charge for the new Prosper Police Headquarters on Safety Way, completed in 2020.
“The facility brings first responders and critical operations together in a modern, efficient environment designed to support both employees and residents,” the release reads.
Under his watch, the Prosper Police Department earned the Best Practices Accreditation from the Texas Police Chiefs Association three times. The department also adopted new technology, including automated license plate readers and a “Drone as First Responder” program.
Kowalski left behind a legacy of “servant leadership and customer service,” consistently emphasizing his “Five Cs of Leadership”: Character, Competence, Compassion, Courage, and Commitment.
Prosper Town Manager Mario Canizares praised Kowalski for his legacy at the department.
“Chief Kowalski’s servant leadership shaped the professionalism and character of the Prosper Police Department,” Canizares said in the release. “His commitment to exceptional service and community trust helped build a strong foundation that will support Prosper for years to come. We are deeply grateful for his service and wish him the very best in retirement.”
Kowalski said he was grateful to Prosper’s residents, town council, town leadership, and his brothers and sisters in blue.
“The police department will carry on and make Prosper proud,” he said.
