Hurst Police Chief Steve Niekamp dies after ‘unexpected’ health complication
Hurst Police Chief Steve Niekamp died unexpectedly this week of a health complication, according to a news release from the city.
Niekamp, 56, had been with the department since 1990 and served as its chief since January 2018, according to the release. “His exceptional leadership and commitment to serving our residents with the highest level of professionalism will leave a lasting impact on our organization and community,” city officials said on Thursday.
“Chief Niekamp dedicated his life to serving the Hurst community,” City Manager Clay Caruthers said. “He consistently led with integrity and demonstrated unwavering loyalty and appreciation to his team.”
Mayor Henry Wilson said, “Chief Niekamp was a good friend of mine as well as an impressive police chief. This is a tragic loss for us, and my heart goes out to his loved ones and the members of the Hurst Police Department.”
Niekamp was a lifelong Hurst resident and graduated from L.D. Bell High School, according to WFAA-TV.
Law enforcement agencies across Texas offered their condolences on social media.
“Chief Niekamp was always supportive of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Waybourn,” officials with the Sheriff’s Office said on social media. “He was a board member of our Auto Theft Task Force and his contributions to keeping North Texans safe are unmatched and have set a standard for excellence in public service.”
“Chief Garcia and the Fort Worth Police Department are heartbroken to hear of the loss of Hurst Police Chief Niekamp,” the Fort Worth department posted. “We stand alongside his department and his family during this difficult time.”
City officials asked the public to respect Niekamp’s family’s privacy.
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM.
