What happened to Greg Allen? Tributes pour in as El Paso police chief dies at 71

On Tuesday, January 17, El Paso PD announced the death of their police chief Greg Allen, who passed away after serving in the department for over four decades.

The death of Allen, 71, the first African American police chief in El Paso, was mourned by the entire city, including the mayor.

While authorities are yet to disclose the cause of death, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser said Allen was in the hospital recovering from an (undisclosed) medical procedure.

Allen was appointed the first African American police chief in El Paso in March 2008, three decades after he joined the El Paso Police Department, where he began patrolling Central and the West Side in 1978.

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Greg Allen was a long-serving member of the police force

Shortly after the city announced the death of El Paso police chief Greg Allen, the entire community was devastated by the loss and mourned the death of the officer, who was highly respected across the force. El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, who described Allen as an intrepid and dedicated officer, said:

"We lost a great leader today. El Paso Chief of Police Greg Allen was not only an incredible Chief of Police, but he was an incredible son, husband, father, and friend. He earned the respect of every officer in his force, and I was proud to call him my friend. He will be greatly missed, and the City of El Paso will be forever indebted to him for his leadership."

The mayor sent his deepest sympathies to Allen's family, noting that the loss will be mourned by the people closest to him and the entire community.

Allen, who began working for the department in 1978, reportedly worked up the ranks as a patrol officer, training specialist, sergeant, and lieutenant before he was appointed police chief in 2008. As per media reports, during his tenure as chief, El Paso was named “The Safest Large City” in the United States for four consecutive years. The city of El Paso announced the Chief’s death and said:

"The City of El Paso is saddened to report the death of longtime Police Chief Greg Allen. Chief Allen joined the City of El Paso in 1978 and was named Chief of Police in March 2008. End of Watch January 17, 2023."

El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles, who described Allen as a beloved friend, lamented the personal loss and said:

“I could go on and on about Greg’s accomplishments and recognitions, but the thing I will miss most about him is our long phone conversations in which we were able to vent to one another.”

Following news of Allen’s death, law enforcement gathered for a funeral procession and accompanied the deceased officer from the Hospitals of Providence East Campus to Sunset Funeral Homes in the Lower Valley.