The top Dallas police spokesperson appeared in front of City Council Wednesday despite being under criminal investigation, leading one Council member to express surprise that she is not on administrative leave.

Allison Hudson, the department’s Assistant Director of Media Relations and Community Affairs, appeared as part of a special presentation honoring the department’s “police explorers” youth program as the Council meeting began Wednesday, Oct. 21.

“Surprised to see her in City Council chambers when news reports are indicating there is a felony investigation,” said Council Member Cara Mendelsohn, who previously chaired the city’s Public Safety Committee. “Typically we see employees put on administrative leave while the investigation is completed.”

A Dallas Police spokesperson said Monday that Hudson has not been placed on administrative leave. The department’s public information office confirmed Wednesday the department’s investigation continues and did not answer additional questions.

Hudson is under investigation by the department’s Public Integrity Unit, DPD told WFAA last week.

Under investigation

Multiple sources told WFAA that Hudson is being investigated in connection with a confrontation involving a motorist, and her alleged use of a Dallas Police Department-issued vehicle equipped with emergency lights and sirens.

Hudson does not have a peace officer license in Texas, according to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, or TCOLE, the state’s licensing agency. The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council in Louisiana said Friday that Hudson also did not have a peace officer license in that state, where she formerly worked as a police spokesperson for the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The Dallas Police Department’s Public Information Office confirmed to WFAA on Friday that there is an ongoing criminal investigation, but provided no other details about the allegations or the circumstances surrounding it.

Hudson has not been arrested or charged with a crime, and no determination of wrongdoing has been made.

Chief Comeaux told WFAA at a press conference about a different incident on Friday afternoon that the investigation into Hudson is ongoing and that he can’t provide further details until the investigation is complete.

Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert’s office provided the following statement: “DPD is investigating and we will not comment on the allegations during the investigation.”

According to multiple sources familiar with the investigation, the motorist reported the confrontation to officers at DPD’s Southeast Patrol Division.

Sources tell WFAA the DPD Public Integrity Unit then opened an investigation.

Multiple DPD employees have since been questioned as part of that investigation, according to WFAA sources, and investigators have taken possession of the department-issued vehicle involved.

Hudson was hired by the Dallas Police Department in October 2025 after being recruited by Police Chief Comeaux. She serves as Assistant Director of Media Relations and Community Affairs, helping oversee the department’s public information and communications operations.

She is the highest-ranking official of the media relations department and reports directly to the chief, according to the DPD organizational chart.

Contact WFAA’s investigative team at investigates@wfaa.com