The City of Fort Worth officially introduced Eddie Garcia as the new Police Chief today at a press conference held at City Hall. Fort Worth City Manager Jesus “Jay” Chapa and Mayor Mattie Parker provided comments to guests and media in attendance.
The recruitment process began in February and included various opportunities for the community to provide input, a meet and greet, community forum and interviews with police command staff, police associations, community stakeholders and City leadership.
“A world-class city starts with public safety. People don’t want to move to a city that isn’t safe, and people don’t want to visit a city that isn’t safe,” Chapa said. “We were fortunate to have such a large pool of candidates that applied, and we had three incredible candidates that would have all been able to become our next police chief. It was a difficult decision, but I leaned into the fact that Eddie has led two large police departments in cities with similar issues as Fort Worth, with diverse and complex communities. He has a track record of building trust with officers, boosting employee morale and connecting with residents. He brings the full package of what we wanted in the next chief.”
Garcia, who is currently serving as Assistant City Manager in Austin, took part in a process that included more than 50 applicants from across the country. Garcia also has a track record of improving relations between police and diverse communities similar to those in Fort Worth.
“The bedrock of our City is around public safety. For the past four years, I understand that our city’s strengths rest simply in smart investments in our Fort Worth Police Department and in our neighborhoods, making all these things critically important in the success of the City of Fort Worth today and tomorrow. I am so incredibly proud of the men and women that wear the Fort Worth Police Department badge and their continued dedication to a safer and more secure community.
Parker saluted Interim Chief Robert Alldredge, who she said has “provided outstanding leadership, strengthened the community and serviced the department for decades.”
“Today, I’m here to tell you our leadership platform only gets better. Chief Eddie Garcia is a tested and proven leader, chosen to lead and embrace our community here in Fort Worth.”
Now that the City Manager has selected Garcia to be the next chief, the Fort Worth City Council will confirm the selection via resolution on Sept. 16, which will also be the date he is sworn in. His first day is planned for Monday, Sept. 22.
About Eddie Garcia
Chief Eddie Garcia is a distinguished municipal and law enforcement executive who served as Chief of Police in both San Jose, California, and Dallas, Texas — two of the nation’s largest and most complex urban policing environments. Over a career spanning decades, he has built a national reputation for driving reform, enhancing public trust and delivering operational excellence.
Originally from Puerto Rico and raised in San Jose’s Berryessa neighborhood, Garcia overcame the challenges of moving from his childhood home, language barriers and socioeconomic adversity. These formative experiences shaped his deep empathy and commitment to public service, instilling a belief in the power of opportunity and the responsibility of leadership to guide and uplift others.
Garcia’s leadership philosophy centers on proactive community engagement and disciplined operational performance. As Assistant Chief in San Jose, he played a pivotal role in rebuilding the department following a crisis sparked by pension reform, which led to the significant loss of sworn personnel. Through collaborative problem-solving and strategic labor partnerships, he helped restore morale, reformed benefits and rebuild staffing levels. Appointed as Chief of Police in San Jose, Garcia led multiple innovative initiatives to strengthen public trust, including the development of a groundbreaking academy course, Policing in the Current Political and Social Climate, in partnership with San Jose State University. This course required training and emphasized historical context and racial equity in policing.
As Chief of Police in Dallas, Garcia expanded reform through transparency and innovation. He launched a public Use of Force Dashboard, implemented policy reviews in alignment with the Sandra Bland Act, and introduced a comprehensive Crime Plan that contributed to four consecutive years of violent crime reduction. He also established a Community Advisory Board, modernized the department’s promotional process and strengthened officer support through a new Wellness Unit and expanded professional development programs.
Garcia has consistently led departments to embrace 21st-century policing principles before public pressure demanded it. His strategic vision, commitment to constitutionally sound and unbiased policing, and ability to foster internal and external trust have positioned him as a transformative figure in American law enforcement.
After retiring from active law enforcement, Garcia accepted a new challenge in Austin, Texas, currently serving as the city’s public safety executive. In this role, he has strategic oversight and coordination across Police, Fire, EMS, Homeland Security, and Emergency Management departments. In each role, Garcia remained committed to leading with integrity, innovating with purpose and delivering safety and justice to every corner of the community.
