Eddie Garcia, the city of Fort Worth’s next police chief, will be sworn in Tuesday night and begin working the next day.

Fort Worth city officials confirmed to NBC 5 on Monday that Garcia, the onetime chief of police in Dallas, would be sworn in as chief of police during a regular meeting of the City Council on Tuesday night and that his first day on the job would be Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Garcia, who is coming to Fort Worth after a short stint in Austin as the assistant city manager for public safety, was previously the chief of the Dallas Police Department for about three and a half years, from February 2021 to September 2024. Prior to moving to Texas, Garcia spent three decades with the San Jose Police Department.

“I stand before you today with a profound sense of humility, gratitude, and determination as I accept the responsibility of serving as the chief of police for the City of Fort Worth,” Garcia said after being selected as the city’s 28th chief in August. “This is not just a selection to a position, it is a calling to serve one of the greatest and most supportive cities in our country. And it is a responsibility I will carry with every ounce of energy that I have.”

In May 2024, Garcia signed an extension to stay with the city of Dallas as chief of police through May 2027. It was surprising, then, when in September 2024, he announced he was leaving policing to be the assistant city manager in Austin. Less than a year later, Garcia’s name was on the short list of candidates for the opening in Fort Worth.

After being selected as the next chief, Garcia said he enjoyed working with Austin’s leadership and learned a lot, but he realized his heart was still in law enforcement.

“Well, I’ll be frank with you, I mean, I was there — similar to athletes in the past, and they hang up their cleats and then decide they didn’t,” Garcia said.

NBC 5 obtained a copy of the city’s offer letter to Garcia, indicating he would be paid an annual salary of $306,000 per year, or $147.12 per hour. Garcia was receiving virtually the same salary in Dallas, $306,400 per year, but was also eligible for a retention bonus of $10,000 every six months.

Fort Worth will provide Garcia with a police vehicle for official events and duties and $10,000 in relocation assistance. Garcia is also guaranteed a severance of 20 weeks of compensation if he’s terminated on a “not for cause” basis.

Garcia is replacing Neil Noakes, who retired from the Fort Worth Police Department on May 30. Between Noakes and Garcia, the department was led by interim Chief Robert Alldredge, a 26-year veteran who was among the four finalists for the chief’s job.

In a statement, Alldredge said the outcome wasn’t what he hoped for, but he congratulated Garcia and said he was honored to have been named interim chief and to have the department’s support during his tenure.

“The strength of this department doesn’t rest on one individual; it’s built on the collective efforts of everyone who wears the badge, supports public safety, and believes in Fort Worth’s future. That important work continues, and it’s inspiring to see each of you making a difference,” Alldredge said. “I extend my sincere gratitude to our officers, professional staff, community members, business leaders, city leadership and staff who offered support, encouragement, and honest dialogue throughout this journey. Your dedication to Fort Worth matters deeply and impresses me daily.”

According to the department’s web page, the Fort Worth Police Department has roughly 1,900 sworn officers serving a population of nearly 1 million.