Before Austin, Garc\u00eda\u2019s annual salary was $306,440 as Dallas police chief, plus a $10,000 retention bonus every six months. Dallas officials promised Garc\u00eda he would remain the highest-paid police chief in Texas in an effort to keep him from leaving<\/a>.<\/p>\n Garc\u00eda will be one of the highest-paid city employees in Fort Worth.\u00a0<\/p>\n City Manager Jay Chapa, who started in January, has an annual salary of $435,000<\/a>. City Attorney Leann Guzman makes $309,580.96 a year, according to raises approved in December<\/a>.<\/p>\n Garc\u00eda replaces former Police Chief Neil Noakes, who retired in May<\/a> after just over four years of leading the department of nearly 2,000 officers.<\/p>\n Garc\u00eda was one of four finalists<\/a> for the job. City Manager Chapa chose him over interim Chief Robert Alldredge<\/a>, who has been with the department since 1999.<\/p>\n Fort Worth\u2019s police department has long struggled with recruiting, according to the city\u2019s drafted 2026 budget book, in a growing city where many listed trust, transparency and accountability<\/a> as top priorities throughout the search for a new chief.\u00a0<\/p>\n Black leaders cited years of tense relations between police officers and Black communities<\/a>. Hispanic leaders said they\u2019ve seen a mounting fear of law enforcement as federal officials continue emphasizing deporting undocumented immigrants<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Garc\u00eda, who was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in California, said he wants to build close relationships<\/a> with the different communities of Fort Worth. He is open to revisiting what police accountability looks like in the city, he said after he was selected as chief.<\/p>\n \u201cYou will be treated with dignity and respect by your police department,\u201d Garc\u00eda told the public during an August news conference. \u201cWe will work to earn and maintain your trust every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n Garc\u00eda is expected to be sworn in at the City Council\u2019s next meeting<\/a>, which starts at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16.<\/p>\n Drew Shaw is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org<\/a> or @shawlings601<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
![\"Creative](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750614464_36_cc-by-nd-4.0.png\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n