‘Fitzgerald the First’? He’s used to the role

New Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald made no reference to race until asked Monday in his first speech since taking the job.

But he spoke surrounded by a crowd that included the city’s ranking African-American officers and retirees, so obviously the moment meant a lot to many people.

When asked by a reporter whether his hiring is important, Fitzgerald made his first specific reference to race since the interview process began:

“It’s as important as it was to be the first African-American chief in Allentown, the first African-American chief in Missouri City. I consider myself very fortunate to be a first in three different cities. Hopefully I will not be the last.”

Fitzgerald, a former narcotics commander in his hometown of Philadelphia, is accustomed to being a “first.” But in those jobs in Pennsylvania and suburban Houston, he proved he could manage departments and build rapport citywide.

In Fort Worth, he will lead a department where some African-American officers felt unfairly punished in 2010 after they complained about an offensive photo.

Fitzgerald is here because he’s a good chief, not to be “first.” But the significance of his hiring should not be overlooked.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 5:55 PM with the headline "‘Fitzgerald the First’? He’s used to the role."