“This police department is going to absolutely go after the criminal element in the city,” Police Chief Eddie Garcia said.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth has a new top cop, and he’s sending a strong message to criminals.
“This police department is going to absolutely go after the criminal element in the city. Not only is it something that I’m going to ask, I’m going to demand it,” Eddie Garcia said after being introduced as the city’s 28th chief of police.
Garcia, who previously served as Dallas Police Chief, was selected from three finalists following a nationwide search. He replaces Neil Noakes, who retired after 25 years with the department. Garcia’s experience won him the appointment, despite being up against interim-chief Robert Alldredge, Jr., known by city leaders also with years at FWPD. In a statement released Friday, Alldredge extended his gratitude for the department and its officers, while also congratulating Garcia on his hiring.
“Selecting someone above somebody known for years, that’s done a good job, was a tough choice, but I think it was a choice I needed to make,” City Manager Jay Chapa said.
Mayor Mattie Parker pledged her support.
“If he comes to me and says, mayor, this is what I need to build trust, this is what I need to be the very best police chief, then I’ll say to Chief Garcia, let’s do it,” Parker said.
Chapa took heat for allowing Garcia’s application past the posted deadline. He called the move normal in nationwide searches for executive jobs using search firms. Fort Worth City Councilman Chris Nettles criticized the move, citing a lack of transparency.
In an official statement released after Garcia’s appointment, Nettles wrote this about Garcia, saying, “I look forward to the Leadership, Accountability, Trust and Honor he will bring to our city. I implore Chief Garcia that our city is different and there is still some distrust with our department, but with the support of the Fort Worth City Council, we can move in the right direction. Our community is seeking Accountability, Community Policing, that we can trust, and a Community Oversight Board (a makeup of everyday residents and stakeholders).”
City leaders have outlined a familiar list of priorities for Garcia: boosting officer morale, building community trust, and ensuring accountability.
Fort Worth’s police monitor will also be keeping close watch. Bonycle Sokunbi believes learning from the public about their interactions with officers on the streets is key to the community-police relationship and the success of the police chief.
“If you have a negative interaction with the police department, we want to know about it, but if you have a positive one from this department, we really want to know about that,” said police monitor Bonycle Sokunbi.
The appointment of the next Fort Worth Police Department chief was also being closely watched by the Fort Worth Black Law Enforcement Officers Association.
“The Fort Worth Black Law Enforcement Officers Association stance has always been that we are looking forward to working with whoever the City selected to lead us as the next chief,” said Captain Cedric Gutter, who serves as the organization’s president. “We extend our sincere congratulations to Chief Garcia and look forward to working together with him, moving the department forward and making FWPD one of the greatest departments in the nation.”
“I wish I could start right after this,” Garcia said at the podium.
He officially begins on Sept. 16, once the city council approves the resolution for his appointment. And once sworn in, Garcia promised to be visible.
“Expect me out in the community, expect me on patrol. I expect me in uniform, expect us tackling violent crime,” Garcia said.
It’s a job, Garcia says, he was born to do.