After over three decades of commitment, Deputy Chief Steve Copling of the Plano Police Department has retired. According to a social media post from the Plano Texas Police Department, the retirement ceremony occurred amongst family and friends, marking the end of a distinguished 38-year career in law enforcement. Copling’s journey with the department began in July 1980, just after his 21st birthday.
During his time with the Plano PD, Copling served in many roles: as a Field Training Officer, a Crime Prevention Officer, and on the SWAT team, where he was among the first on the department’s full-time surveillance team, according to the post. His career in narcotics led him to become the department's first Narcotics Technical Officer. It included a stint in the Collin County Sheriff’s Office's Narcotics Unit after he had temporarily left the agency.
Copling’s skill set extended beyond the police department as he diversified his experience during his separation from law enforcement. He engaged in private business and later spent time as a corporate investigator for Yellow Freight System, where his work across a three-state region was enough to garner him, Investigator of the Year, in 1997. He was reappointed to the Plano PD six years after his original separation from the department, an interesting symmetry to his storied career.
Throughout his tenure upon returning, Copling continued to take on roles that emphasized specialization and leadership. His positions included an investigator for the Professional Standards Unit, a return to SWAT, and an Overdose Detective in the Narcotics Unit. In 2001, he took the initiative to implement the department’s Patrol Rifle Program. His leadership positions followed as he climbed the ranks from Sergeant in the Patrol Services Division to Lieutenant and eventually to Deputy Chief, where he commanded patrol and investigative divisions and served as the Emergency Services Unit Commander for over a decade.
