City of Troy Names Major Dustyn Tienter as Next Police Chief

TROY, MO — City Administrator James Knowles has appointed Major Dustyn Tienter as the next Chief of Police for the City of Troy, following discussion and support from the Troy Board of Aldermen during a Thursday evening meeting.

The appointment was made by City Administrator James Knowles, consistent with city ordinance governing staff hiring and promotions. The city utilized Interim Solutions, LLC, a professional recruitment firm, to assist with the police chief selection process.

The appointment will become effective following the retirement of current Police Chief Jeff Taylor, who is set to retire on February 26, 2026, after 35 years of service.

Major Dustyn Tienter was appointed as the next Chief of Police for the City of Troy by City Administrator James Knowles, with support from the Troy Board of Aldermen.

Major Tienter was born and raised in Lincoln County and is a graduate of Troy Buchanan High School. He began his law enforcement career with the Troy Police Department after graduating from the Eastern Missouri Law Enforcement Training Academy in May 2000. Over the years, he has served in multiple leadership roles, including promotions to Corporal in 2004, Sergeant in 2005, Lieutenant in 2013, and Major / Assistant Chief of Police in 2021.

In addition to his local service, Major Tienter has served a combined 13 years in the Missouri Army National Guard from 1998 to 2005, later re-enlisting in 2019 after a 14-year break in service. He currently holds the rank of Senior Enlisted Sergeant First Class and serves as the 3rd Platoon Sergeant with the 1136th Military Police Company based in Springfield, Missouri.

Major Tienter is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Class 289), completed in 2024, where he maintained a 3.98 GPA. He has completed the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA) Supervisor, Command, and Executive Trilogy, along with additional leadership and management training.

According to city officials, Major Tienter has developed a comprehensive vision plan for the Troy Police Department that includes a 100-day transition period followed by a five-year framework built around seven focus areas, including technology and infrastructure, community engagement and transparency, officer safety initiatives, employee wellness and retention, internal communication, leadership development, and specialized policing capabilities.

In a statement included with the announcement, Major Tienter said the appointment carries significant responsibility and emphasized his commitment to both the department and the community.

City officials congratulated Major Tienter on his appointment and expressed confidence in his leadership as Troy continues to experience sustained growth.

Lincoln CountyWatch has reached out to Major Tienter for comment. Any response will be added to this article when available.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to clarify the appointment process for the Troy Police Chief, which is made by the City Administrator under city ordinance, with input from the Board of Aldermen.

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This article was written by John Eads. Lincoln CountyWatch reports based on information contained in official public releases and documents provided by government agencies. Lincoln CountyWatch does not independently verify the accuracy of those records and is not responsible for errors or omissions contained within them.