Fort Worth fire chief on paid administrative leave for ‘personnel matter’
The chief of the Fort Worth Fire Department has been placed on paid administrative leave, city officials told the Star-Telegram.
Chief Jim Davis is on leave due to a “personnel matter,” and officials did not provide further details in an email Tuesday night. Davis has been the department’s chief since October 2018.
Before coming to Fort Worth, Davis was responsible for training and education of firefighters and paramedics in Columbus, Ohio, according to his city bio.
Davis is a registered nurse, earned a master’s degree in operational excellence and process improvement from Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, and earned a doctorate in adult learning theory from the University of Pennsylvania.
The Fort Worth firefighters’ union addressed Davis’ leave in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“The Fort Worth Professional Firefighters respect this process and remain committed to our mission of protecting the lives and property of the residents we serve,” the statement reads. “During this time, the members of the Fort Worth Fire Department will continue to provide the highest level of emergency response and public safety services without interruption.”
Davis replaced Rudy Jackson, who retired after over 10 years at the helm of the department.
Assistant Chief Raymond Hill is serving as interim chief, officials said. Hill has been with the department for 31 years.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 8:34 PM.
