North Texas boomtown Aledo is officially in the policing business. The Parker County town has launched its first municipal police department, sworn in its inaugural chief and opened a new downtown municipal complex that brings city services and law enforcement under one roof. The move shifts day-to-day patrols from county coverage to a locally controlled force tailored to a growing exurb.
According to the City of Aledo, Carol L. Riddle was sworn in on Aug. 6, 2025 as the city's first police chief and will lead the new department. The city notes that Riddle brings more than 25 years of law-enforcement experience, including service as a deputy chief with the Arlington Police Department and as chief of police for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Officials described the launch as the beginning of a community-focused department built on “professionalism, transparency and trust.”
Why Aledo Is Building Its Own Force
Aledo’s decision comes as North Texas exurbs add housing and services at a rapid clip, driving demand for local policing and municipal infrastructure. The new department represents a transition from county-provided patrols to a homegrown force built to keep pace with that growth. As WFAA has reported, Aledo’s trajectory is part of a broader regional boom that is prompting small towns to build out permanent civic services.
New Municipal Complex Opens Downtown
The city cut the ribbon on the Aledo Municipal Complex on Jan. 10, 2026, consolidating city hall, the public library, utility billing and the police department into a single downtown site. FOX4 reported that the ceremony included tours and an introduction of the city’s new manager, with officials saying the building is meant to anchor future growth. “This is world-class civic architecture. Not built for spectacle, but built for purpose,” Mayor Shane Davis said at the opening.
Where The New Department Stands Now
The Aledo Police Department, established in August 2025, is still in its early stages and is focused on recruiting officers, putting policies in place and conducting training, according to Aledo's police page. The department page also lists a non-emergency number for residents and emphasizes community collaboration as a priority while the force builds capacity.
What Residents Can Expect
Over time, residents can expect municipal control of routine patrols, while the city coordinates mutual aid and specialty responses with county partners during the transition. As FOX4 noted, the new municipal complex centralizes services so people have a single point of contact for city business and public safety questions.
City leaders say the department launch is an early step in a larger planning push as Aledo manages new development and infrastructure needs. Reporting from WFAA frames the move as one example of how North Texas suburbs are reshaping services to match ongoing growth.
