Princeton Loses Fire Chief to The Colony

Shannon Stephens departs after just one year to lead fire department in fast-growing Dallas suburb

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a fire truck icon repeated in a tight grid pattern, using flat, vibrant neon colors and heavy black outlines to transform an everyday emergency vehicle into modern pop art.A vibrant pop art homage to the fire trucks that serve growing suburban communities like The Colony, where an experienced fire chief has been recruited away from a neighboring town.The Colony Today

The city of The Colony in Denton County, Texas has hired Shannon Stephens, the current fire chief of Princeton, as its new fire chief. Stephens had previously worked for 24 years with The Colony Fire Department before leaving in 2023 to become fire chief in Harker Heights. He joined the Princeton Fire Department just a year ago, but is now returning to The Colony to lead its department.

Why it matters

The move highlights the ongoing challenge for smaller cities like Princeton to retain experienced public safety leaders, as larger, fast-growing suburbs like The Colony can often offer more resources and opportunities. The Colony has seen rapid population growth in recent years, reaching over 44,000 residents in the 2020 census.

The details

City Manager Troy Powell announced that The Colony had hired Stephens due to his 'unique qualifications' from his previous two decades of experience with The Colony Fire Department, as well as his familiarity with the community itself. Stephens had succeeded Princeton Fire Chief Tom Harvey following Harvey's retirement just last year.

  • Stephens left The Colony Fire Department in July 2023 to become fire chief in Harker Heights.
  • Stephens joined the Princeton Fire Department as chief one year ago.

The players

Shannon Stephens

The current fire chief of Princeton, Texas who is departing to become the new fire chief for the city of The Colony.

Troy Powell

The city manager of The Colony, Texas who announced the hiring of Shannon Stephens as the new fire chief.

Tom Harvey

The previous fire chief of Princeton, Texas who retired and was succeeded by Shannon Stephens.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We were presented with a rare opportunity to have a candidate we feel is uniquely qualified for the position with Chief Stephens' previous two decades of knowledge and experience with TCFD, as well as the community itself.”

— Troy Powell, City Manager

The takeaway

The departure of an experienced fire chief like Shannon Stephens highlights the ongoing challenge for smaller cities to retain top public safety talent, as larger, fast-growing suburbs can often offer more resources and opportunities. This move also underscores the value of institutional knowledge and community connections when it comes to leading a local fire department.