April 21, 2025 – Decatur City Manager Tim Gleason has announced Brad Allen as the next Chief of the Decatur Police Department.
Allen has been with DPD for 27 years and previously served as Deputy Chief of Administrative Operations. He succeeds Chief Shane Brandel who retires after four years leading the department.
“I am proud to promote Brad Allen to serve as the next chief of the Decatur Police Department,” said Gleason. “Throughout his career he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to the community, making him the right person to lead the department into the future.”
Allen is a Decatur native and graduate of MacArthur High School. He began his career at DPD in January 1998, was assigned to Detective in 2005, promoted to Sergeant in 2013, then to Lieutenant in 2016, before his most recent position as Deputy Chief of Police – Administrative Operations since 2021. He officially starts as Chief of Police on May 10, 2025.
“It is a great honor and privilege to be appointed as the next Police Chief of my hometown. I fully understand the responsibility that comes with this role, and I look forward to working in partnership with the community to build a safer and stronger Decatur,” said Allen. “The men and women of the Decatur Police Department are among the best in the profession and deserve full credit for the outstanding service we provide. I am excited to work alongside each officer and staff member as we continue to lead the way in modern policing and uphold the highest standards of excellence.”
