John Dombrowa was raised in Houston and graduated from Sharpstown High School. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Stephen F. Austin State University.
John joined the Pasadena Police Department in 1986. Upon graduating from the police academy, he worked on Evening and night Shift Patrol and was assigned to the Direct Action Response Team, SWAT, and the Training Academy.
John was promoted to Sergeant in 1996 and served on Evening Shift Patrol, the Police Academy, and SWAT, with most of that time spent as the Sergeant in the training division. In 2005, he was promoted to Lieutenant and has served on all three Patrol Shifts, in addition to serving in Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, the Gang Intelligence Unit, and the Police Academy.
He served on SWAT from 1990-2016 and was both the Houston Region and later the State Training Coordinator for the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association during that time. He has been an adjunct instructor for ALERRT and has instructed Active Shooter response for ALERRT since 2002.
John was appointed to his current rank as Assistant Chief of Police in December 2023.