Episode 50

Chief Doug Kowalski

 Special THANK YOU to the ATO family and friends as we release our landmark episode in, fittingly, our Big 5-0.

The Assist the Officer Foundation is proud to release our 50th episode and capture a true piece of Dallas Police and Texas law enforcement history in this story.

Doug Kowalski moved to Texas and joined the Dallas Police Department in 1977, where he advanced through the ranks of Officer, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Deputy Chief.

Chief Kowalski tells the story of the growth of the Dallas PD Narcotics Unit that went from only eight detectives in 1977 to swelling to over 100 during the 1990’s bloody drug wars in Dallas, Texas. Chief helped sculpt this unit and saw incredible Dallas PD history, good and bad, as he witnessed unit success, corruption, and tragedy.

During his Dallas career he commanded the Dallas SWAT Unit and oversaw the enormous task of implementing the 911 system in Dallas, Texas.

His boots on the ground approach as a SWAT leader was evident when he found himself surrounded by a hostile crowd during the Dallas Cowboys championship parade, fighting for his life in the heart of downtown Dallas.

After leaving Dallas PD he traveled North and began a new career in Mckinney, Texas to lead their police department and witnessed the department grow to three times its size under his command in over a decade of being the Mckinney PD’s Chief.

Now Chief Kowalski commands the Prosper Police Department and , again, is leading a department that is seeing massive growth in both city and PD.

For this landmark episode the ATO crew welcomed back LT. Bob Owens, a 40-year Dallas PD veteran, to sit with his old boss and give his perspective on this incredible career. This duo has over 80 years of law enforcement service.

Special Thank You to Misty Vancuren, Danny Canete, Josh Hertel, Randy Aguilar and so many incredible guests and guest cohosts to make this podcast happen.

Critical incidents:

Dallas Cowboys championship parade riot in February 1993.

1999 story of former Dallas Chief Terrell Bolton’s demotion of 9 commanders.

Sept 1990 Former Dallas Police Chief MAck Vines was indicted on perjury charges.