New Dallas Police and Fire Chiefs Take the Oath of Office
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert named Daniel Comeaux to lead the Dallas Police Department on April 11 and Justin Ball to take over the reins at Dallas Fire-Rescue on April 10.
Both chiefs took their oaths of office on Wednesday, April 23 in the Dallas City Secretary’s Office and then headed to city council chambers outlining their excitement and responsibility as they take on their new roles.

Comeaux is a 33-year law enforcement veteran, currently serving as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Field Division, overseeing 12 offices throughout Texas, including Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. His jurisdiction covers nearly 16,000,000 residents who live in 114 counties across 118,000 square miles, 645 of which are at the United States-Mexico border. His leadership has focused on intelligence-driven crime reduction, operational efficiency, interagency collaboration, and officer development.
A native of New Orleans, he began his career in 1991 with the Houston Police Department (HPD), he specialized in community policing, narcotics enforcement, and high-risk investigations. In 1997, he transitioned to the DEA, where he led major operations in Houston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, targeting violent crime and drug trafficking. His strategies have resulted in significant crime reduction, including a 40% decrease in overdose deaths in Laredo, Texas.

As Dallas’ 18th Fire Chief, Ball will oversee a $430 million budget and lead roughly 2200 men and women who serve the public responding to fire and emergency medical services. He joined DFR in 1997 and has advanced through every rank—from firefighter paramedic to Field Deputy Chief, Executive Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, and ultimately Executive Assistant Chief of Operations.
In June, Chief Ball assumed the role of Interim Fire Chief after Chief Dominique Artis was named the City’s first Chief of Public Safety.
Chief Ball has a bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration from Texas A&M and maintains certifications as a Master Firefighter, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor II, Incident Commander, and Incident Safety Officer.
Originally from northeast England, he has called the Dallas area home for more than 30 years and considers DFR his extended family.
The Chiefs will be recognized in a joint swearing in ceremony on Monday, May 5th. This will be a public event with more information coming soon.
