Cedar Park Police Commander Coy Brown is set to take the helm in Temple, with the city naming him its next police chief and putting his official start date at May 1, 2026. Brown brings nearly 20 years in law enforcement to the job, with a résumé that runs through patrol, investigations, and training, and a track record in both supervisory and command roles. Temple landed on Brown after a nationwide recruitment that whittled dozens of applicants down to a short list of finalists.
The hire was announced in a post by the Cedar Park Police Department, while the City of Temple newsroom had already rolled out profiles of the finalists and a public timeline for the process. Temple’s materials and local coverage note that applicants came from multiple states and that the short list faced residents in public meet-and-greets at police headquarters.
Brown's background
Brown joined the Cedar Park Police Department in 2007 and now serves as a commander over the Operations Bureau, where, according to the Cedar Park city website, he has led units including patrol, highway enforcement, and the department’s mental health and logistics teams. Over the years, he moved up through the ranks and into specialized roles such as SWAT operator, field training officer, and detective, and he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, along with other senior leadership programs.
Temple’s finalist profile, released as part of the recruitment packet, notes that Brown currently provides leadership to more than 155 sworn and civilian employees and helps oversee a department budget in the multi-millions. City materials highlight those operational chops as key factors in the selection process.
What he'll inherit in Temple
The chief search followed the previous police chief’s promotion into an administrative role and unfolded as a public recruitment with questionnaires, interviews, media review and background checks, as reported by KXXV. From there, Temple narrowed the field to four finalists and invited residents to size them up during open sessions at the department.
Brown told local reporters he intends to be a visible, “people first” chief who focuses on supporting officers so they can better serve the city. “I believe you take care of the men and women of the Temple Police Department, they will take care of the community,” Brown said during a public event, according to KWTX.
Start date and transition
The Cedar Park Police Department announcement states that Brown will officially step into the Temple chief’s role on May 1, 2026. City officials have not yet released a detailed transition schedule, but the hire positions an experienced Central Texas law enforcement leader ahead of a busy spring for municipal operations.
Temple has described the search as community-focused and competitive, and the finalists’ profiles suggest city leaders zeroed in on candidates with experience in team development, community engagement, and organizational growth. Residents who want to dig into the official materials can find the candidate profiles in the City of Temple newsroom and the hiring announcement on the Cedar Park Police Department Facebook page.
