City of Allen

📰 Great news — the word is out! Allen has been named one of the best small cities in the area, ranking in the 96th percentile nationwide in WalletHub’s latest report. From top marks in safety to being the #1 ZIP code for renters, Allen continues to stand out as a place where people thrive.

That’s a wrap on the Beyond The Smoke conference & cookout! 🔥🍴 Hosted at the Stephen G. Terrell Recreation Center, the City of Allen proudly joined the City of Plano for a day of food, fun, and team building. The event featured BBQ Pitmasters Show Grand Champion and Food Network Chopped Grillmaster Harry Soo, along with Nick Kittle, co-founder and CEO of Beyond the Smoke. From firing up barbecue meats to crafting standout sides like tortillas and pineapple tidbits, teams didn’t just cook together—they learned how to work together. These hands-on lessons in collaboration, communication, and adaptability are ones they’ll carry back into their daily work lives. "The team-building day offered so many nuggets of insight—like understanding the ‘why’ behind what we do in local government, recognizing when change is needed and how to support it, and appreciating that people have different expectations of what ‘thorough communication’ means," said Chiny Okonkwo, Communications Coordinator. 👏 Great job, Charcoal Kings! Thank you for representing the City of Allen with pride and teamwork.

We’re so proud of our city — more than 792 pounds of peanut butter was collected in Allen for the North Texas Food Bank’s Peanut Butter Drive last month! That’s three times more than what we collected last year! This incredible achievement was made possible through the teamwork of our departments and facilities. Four drop-off locations contributed to this effort: 🥜 City Hall 🥜 Stephen G. Terrell Recreation Center 🥜 Allen Senior Recreation Center 🥜 City of Allen Animal Shelter Together, we’re making a difference — one jar at a time!

🔊 We're listening...and we want more.... Table Talk: Young Adults & Emerging Professionals is a new event from the City of Allen, built on insights from past community input where young adults shared their feelings of disengagement with the community. This event brings together young adults (18–35, not raising children), city staff and the Community Engagement Advisory Board for real conversation, shared experiences, and community-building. 🗓️ Oct. 21 | 6 PM 📍 The Space on West Main 🍽️ Dinner provided | 60 spots only 🔗 Register via Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/46vUX2Y Let’s build a more inclusive Allen—together.

🎧 Celebrating International Podcast Day with a new episode of Behind the Badge! The Allen Police Department just dropped its latest podcast episode—this time featuring Officer Laine Strickland, who shares her unique perspective on serving the community. From her role on the department’s tattoo committee to patrolling with the bicycle unit, Officer Strickland gives us a look into the work our officers do every day. 💙 Listen to Allen Police: Behind the Badge wherever you get your podcasts.

The City of Allen is proud to celebrate 25 years of dedicated service from our police department volunteers! At a recent City Council meeting, Citizens on Patrol (COP) and Volunteers in Policing (VIP) were recognized for their incredible contributions. Over the past 25 years, these programs have logged 96,000 volunteer hours, completed 12,500 patrols, and provided an estimated $2.5 million in value to the City of Allen. The COP program currently includes 31 active volunteers who serve as extra eyes and ears for the department—helping free up valuable time for officers to focus on high-priority calls. The recognition was especially meaningful for Councilmember Carl Clemencich (Place 5), who has served as a COP volunteer since 2013. He described the initiative as an “incredible partnership” built on time, energy, and community spirit. Learn more about these programs and how you can get involved: https://bit.ly/4mLjVA6

Happy HR Professionals Day! 🎉 Today we celebrate the team that keeps the City of Allen running strong. Our Human Resources Department has a positive impact on every single employee, helping our organization—and our community—thrive. From new-hire orientation tours to Kona Ice days, employee health fairs, and plenty of snacks and treats in between, HR makes sure our workplace feels welcoming and supportive. They may spend much of their time behind the scenes, but their work is felt in every department. We see you, HR, and we appreciate you. Thank you for all that you do! 💙

🌟 Now Hiring: Director of Community Development 🌟 This is more than a job—it’s a chance to shape the future of one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas. The City of Allen is seeking a visionary leader to oversee planning, permitting, and building inspections, guiding how our community grows and thrives. We’re looking for: ✔️ Bachelor’s in Public Administration (or related field) ✔️ 7+ years of experience (5 in leadership) ✔️ Strong communication + project management skills ✔️ American Institute of Certified Planners Certification (AICP) preferred 💼 Competitive salary, based on qualifications Know someone with planning, development, or leadership experience? Please share: https://bit.ly/46ziCy2

🥊 We’re proud to share that Officer Chris Danko represented the Allen Police Department at the 24th Annual Guns & Hoses Boxing Tournament and took home the win in Bout 13! The event took place last Saturday at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center. It brought together first responders from across North Texas for a night of friendly competition and powerful purpose. Hosted by the Guns & Hoses Foundation of North Texas, the tournament raises funds to support the families of fallen police officers and firefighters across 19 counties. Thank you to Guns & Hoses for your unwavering support of first responders and their families. And congratulations, Officer Danko, you made Allen proud! 📷 Photos provided by the Guns and Hoses Foundation of North Texas.

At the City of Allen, we’re committed to working together to spotlight the remarkable employees who serve our community—often quietly, without seeking recognition. The latest Behind the Badge podcast highlights Officer Anthony Garcia of the Allen Police Department, a familiar face to students and staff at Allen Independent School District. As a Student Resource Officer, Officer Garcia’s approach goes beyond safety—he focuses on building trust and showing students that he cares. 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music 📺 Watch on the ACTV YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/421UMcU