Former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia named Fort Worth’s new chief of police
Former Dallas top cop Eddie Garcia will take over the Fort Worth Police Department, city manager Jay Chapa said Thursday.
Garcia, who is currently serving as an assistant city manager in Austin, will be the Fort Worth department’s 28th chief of police, according to a statement from the city. The announcement of Garcia’s selection caps off a months-long search for the department’s next leader that began in February of this year.
Before being named Fort Worth’s chief, Garcia was best-known locally for a four-year stint as Dallas’ police chief. He worked to stabilize the department’s force amid an officer retention crisis and pushed to increase transparency with a use-of-force data portal for residents, the Star-Telegram previously reported. When he was hired in 2021, Garcia was the department’s first Latino chief, and violent crime in the city fell 19% during his tenure.
Garcia left Dallas — and law enforcement — in September 2024 to take a job in the Austin city manager’s office. In that post, he oversaw the city’s public safety departments, including police, fire and emergency medical services. Garcia followed former Dallas city manager T.C. Broadnax to Austin. Broadnax hired Garcia for his Dallas chief job.
Garcia’s application for the Fort Worth job was subject to scrutiny from City Councilmember Chris Nettles in July. Nettles and pastor Kyev Tatum questioned why Garcia was allowed to apply for the post after a June 4 submission deadline.
During a city council work session on Aug. 5, Assistant City Manager Dianna Giordano noted that the June 4 application deadline was “flexible,” the Star-Telegram previously reported. Nettles and Tatum called the late application “unethical” and said it was a sign of a “baked process.”
Garcia was one of four finalists for the Fort Worth police chief position. The other finalists included current Interim Chief Robert Alldredge.
Previous chief Neil Noakes retired earlier this year.
The search process to replace Noakes began in February and included various opportunities for community input such as a forum, and interviews with police command staff, police associations, community stakeholders and city leaders, according to a news release. There were more than 50 applicants for the position.
“Fort Worth’s future — our growth, prosperity, and quality of life — depends on our commitment to public safety,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said in a statement after the announcement. “Chief Garcia has the tested and proven leadership needed to energize our men and women in uniform and to embrace our community, and I believe he is the right leader to guide the department and our city forward.”
Chapa’s decision has the mayor’s “full support and confidence,” she said. Parker, Garcia and others will deliver remarks at a scheduled press conference Friday.
This story was originally published August 21, 2025 at 1:57 PM.
