Carol Riddle, a retired Arlington police deputy chief, has been named the city’s inaugural police chief.
ALEDO, Texas — ALEDO, Texas — The small-town charm that once defined this Texas community is giving way to rapid growth, prompting city leaders to establish their first police department.
Mayor Shane Davis recalls when the city was so small that “there were more cattle than there were students.”
Those days are long gone. Davis estimates the population has more than doubled since city limits signs were installed on the edge of town.
The growth has transformed the once-sleepy town into a bustling community.
“We’ve now grown to a point where the city is starting to meet the country,” Davis said.
The growth has been particularly noticeable to long-term residents like Christina Donnelly, owner of Two Sisters Teahouse, who has watched her community evolve.
“It’s just like, what? We have traffic now,” Donnelly said, noting the stark change.
Despite the rapid expansion, some traditions remain unchanged. Donnelly proudly points to the community’s continued focus on its students and the football program’s impressive track record.
“Football season is starting, and I feel the need to mention that we have won 12 state championships,” she said. “Just wanted to get that out there.”
But Donnelly said the entire education system in Aledo is top-notch, making it an easy choice for parents.
“It’s not just football, it’s everything. All sports, academics, robotics, it’s debate,” she said.
New Police Department Takes Shape
To address the needs of the growing population, Aledo is establishing its first police department, housed in a brand-new city building. Carol Riddle, a retired Arlington police deputy chief, has been named the city’s inaugural police chief.
“I thought, this is going to be a really exciting opportunity, a challenging one, but really exciting,” Riddle said.
The transition represents a significant shift for the community, which currently relies on the Parker County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services. The sheriff’s office currently handles several hundred calls for service annually in Aledo, but Riddle expects that number to increase once the new department is operational.
The highest call volume now is related to break-ins, Riddle said. But she is hoping to do more proactive policing in the future.
“Anytime you have growth and a community is growing, and you have a population influx, people want to feel safe in their community,” Riddle explained.
The police chief plans to hire five new officers with a $1.5 million budget and hopes to have them patrolling by the end of the year. She emphasized that the transition from county to city policing would be seamless.
Planning for Continued Growth
Davis acknowledged that while crime is not currently a major concern, the city wants to be prepared for future challenges.
“We don’t have a lot of crime now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be coming,” Davis said. “We want to let those people know, we’re ready for you.”
With developers at the city’s doorstep, new construction projects underway and plans to widen Aledo’s main road, city officials said the current changes are just the beginning of the community’s transformation.
The rapid growth reflects broader demographic shifts in Texas suburbs, where communities are balancing preservation of their small-town character with the demands of an expanding population and the services required to support it.
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