Fort Worth police chief hire deserved nationwide search, with diversity a priority
By nearly all accounts, Ed Kraus is a strong choice to be Fort Worth’s police chief.
Is he the best possible choice? We can’t know that, and neither can city officials. That’s because in the six and a half months Kraus has had the job on an interim basis, the city does not appear to have considered other candidates.
City Manager David Cooke told the Star-Telegram on Wednesday night that he had conducted no national search for a new chief. That’s unusual for a city of Fort Worth’s size, and less than ideal for one facing its challenges.
Since taking over when Chief Joel Fitzgerald was fired in May, Kraus has performed admirably under difficult circumstances. His first few months on the job saw officers fatally shoot civilians six times. Black residents, already distrustful of the force, were enraged when an officer shot and killed Atatiana Jefferson in her own home without identifying himself.
Kraus handled these situations as well as could be expected. He was quick to denounce the actions of Officer Aaron Dean, Jefferson’s killer, and to declare that Dean did not represent the department’s 1,700 other officers.
That said, hiring Kraus without seriously considering other candidates is a mistake. It automatically elevates a white male to one of the city’s most important positions at a time when minority communities are seeking significant change in the department Kraus will lead.
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A large city with a majority-minority population must ensure diversity in hiring, particularly for high-profile jobs. The best way to ensure that minorities get consideration for top positions is to search widely, making a diverse pool of candidates a stated priority.
Cooke and Mayor Betsy Price have taken important steps to address the police violence question since the summer, and particularly after Jefferson’s killing. They’re bringing in national experts to independently evaluate the department, ideally to include a sweeping review of training, tactics and other procedures. The city’s new diversity and inclusion director, Christina Brooks, will start work here Monday. And finalists have been identified for the post of police monitor, which will act as a liaison between the department and the community.
Kraus, with more than 26 years of experience on the Fort Worth force, may be the ideal chief to implement changes that the outside experts and new hires recommend in a way that works best for the department and the city. He’s been here for the work done by the Race and Culture Task Force and the turmoil of Fitzgerald’s tenure. Pairing the inside and outside perspectives isn’t a bad idea.
Kraus has a big job ahead. It appears he has broad support among officers, but it remains to be seen if he can build trust within some communities the department serves. A thorough search with multiple candidates, including Kraus, would have helped clarify that. Nothing in his record or performance so far suggests he’s a bad fit or ill-suited for the work that must be done, but he’ll have to do it while maintaining morale in the department at a time of significant change. It won’t be easy.
The failure to consider outside candidates means Kraus’ permanent tenure begins under a shadow he did not cause. It’s disappointing, and it should have been avoided.