El Paso, Texas, is mourning the loss of its longtime police chief, Greg Allen, who died on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at the age of 71. Allen was the first African American police chief in El Paso and served in the department for over four decades. He was respected by his colleagues, the community, and the nation for his leadership and dedication to public safety.
A Cop’s Cop
Allen joined the El Paso Police Department in 1978 and started off patrolling Central and the West Side. Throughout the decades, he moved up to the rank of deputy chief in charge of the Central and Pebble Hills regional command centers. He was appointed the police chief in March 2008, after serving as interim chief following the retirement of former Chief Richard Wiles, who is now El Paso County sheriff.
Allen was a cop’s cop who earned the respect of every officer on his force. He was known for his hard-line law-and-order stances and his straightforward demeanor. He oversaw the department during a period of continued growth and challenges for El Paso.
A Safe City
One of Allen’s achievements was keeping El Paso among the safest large cities in the United States, even as neighboring Juárez, Mexico, was turned into one of the deadliest cities in the world during the drug cartel war years a decade ago. The rampant bloodshed in Mexico never spread to the El Paso side of the border, thanks to Allen’s efforts and cooperation with other law enforcement agencies.
Allen also led the department during possibly El Paso’s darkest hour, when an out-of-town gunman killed 23 people and wounded dozens of others in a racially motivated mass shooting targeting Latinos at a Walmart store near Cielo Vista Mall on August 3, 2019. Allen coordinated the response and investigation of the tragedy, which shook the nation and sparked calls for gun control and action against white supremacy.
A Great Leader
Allen’s death was announced by the city of El Paso on Tuesday afternoon. A cause of death was not disclosed, but El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser said Allen was in the hospital recovering from a medical procedure. Leeser praised Allen as an incredible chief of police and a friend who will be greatly missed.
City Manager Tommy Gonzalez also expressed his condolences to Allen’s family and said he was heartbroken by the loss. He said Allen was an esteemed member of the city family and meant so much to the organization and the community.
Allen is survived by his wife Rosanne and his children. He also leaves behind a legacy of service and sacrifice that will not be forgotten by those who knew him and worked with him.
According to POP Culture News, tributes poured in from other law enforcement leaders, politicians, and residents who honored Allen’s memory and thanked him for his contributions to El Paso. He was described as a dedicated servant, a visionary leader, and a humble man who loved his city.
