Fort Worth City Manager Jesus “Jay” Chapa is pleased to announce the finalist candidates for police chief. This is one of the most critical positions for the City’s leadership team, overseeing a department of 1,896 sworn officers and 574 professional staff members.
Applications opened on May 4 and closed one month later. Mosaic Public Partners conducted the national search and received a total of 51 applicants, of which 92% were male and 8% were female. The pool represented candidates from municipal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies from 15 states, including Texas. The first round of interviews with City leadership took place June 25. Of the 51 applicants, nine were interviewed in the semi-finalist round with four selected to move forward as finalists.
The finalists include:
- Chief Robert A. Alldredge, Jr.
- Chief Eddie Garcia
- Chief Vernon Hale
- Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides
“I’m very pleased with the diversity, depth, and caliber of candidates who expressed interest in this important role,” said City Manager Chapa. “The strength of the finalist pool reflects the high regard for the Fort Worth Police Department, and our next chief must uphold—and build upon—that standard of excellence as we move forward.”
Candidate Forum
To give community members the opportunity to meet the police chief candidates and hear from them on the issues that matter most to Fort Worth, there will be a community forum on Thursday, August 14 at 5:30 p.m. hosted at City Hall (100 Fort Worth Trail) and streamed live online and on Fort Worth Television (FWTV).
Community members are welcome to submit their suggestions for questions to be asked at the forum ahead of time at the following link: bit.ly/FWPD-chief-forum
The online submission link will close Friday, August 8.
FWPD Police Chief Finalists
Below are headshots and bios for the finalists, in alphabetical order by last name.
Robert A. Alldredge, Jr.
Robert A. Alldredge, Jr. is a seasoned law enforcement professional with over 30 years of experience, including 26 years of distinguished service and progressive leadership with the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD). He currently serves as the Interim Chief of Police, leading with a heart for service and a strong commitment to transparency and innovation, ensuring the community is informed and engaged.
Chief Alldredge began his law enforcement career in 1994 and joined FWPD in 1999. Rising through the ranks from patrol officer to executive leadership, he has held command positions across nearly every major division, including Patrol, Tactical Operations, Professional Standards, and the Finance and Personnel Bureau. His leadership spans strategic planning, crisis management, operational efficiency, and community engagement.
As Executive Assistant Chief, he oversaw a combined budget exceeding $450M and implemented key initiatives shaping the department’s future. These include a complete staffing plan for 2026, patrol beat realignment, improvements in recruit training timelines, and the expansion of the Community Partnership Command. He was instrumental in creating the Civilian Response Unit and the Criminal Justice High School Program, which gives students hands-on experience in law enforcement and creates pathways into public safety careers.
His accomplishments include pivotal roles in managing the department’s response to citywide protests in 2020, the “No Kings” protest in 2025, and the broader public safety challenges that followed. Additionally, he expanded the Crisis Intervention Team to better serve people experiencing a crisis by partnering with the Fort Worth Fire Department and mental health professionals to launch the Homeless Outreach Program Enforcement Strike Team. As for his department, officer wellness is a priority, and he consistently advocates for mental health support with the message: “It’s okay not to be okay.”
His leadership style, influenced by his military background and extensive experience in law enforcement, is situational and adaptable. He prioritizes fairness and accountability within the organization, making everyone feel respected and valued. Throughout his career, he developed strong relationships within his department and with other city departments, city leaders, faith-based leaders, and the community. He emphasizes that public safety should be a shared responsibility, making everyone feel included and part of the solution.
A United States Air Force veteran who served during Operation Desert Storm, Chief Alldredge holds a master’s degree in Criminal Justice and graduated from the FBI National Academy. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the FBI National Academy Associates and actively contributes to local and regional public safety boards.
Chief Alldredge is a devoted husband of 27 years to his wife Sherry and a family man. Together, they have three children and are proud grandparents to two grandchildren. He is guided by faith and is a dedicated public servant who demonstrates humility, empathy, and compassion in his leadership, and has a vision to enhance safety for the Fort Worth community.
Eddie Garcia
Eddie Garcia brings more than 30 years of experience in public safety that includes policies, procedures, and initiatives that were implemented to build community trust, increase transparency, as well as embrace fair and impartial constitutional policing while maintaining police proactivity. He currently serves as Assistant City Manager in Austin and most recently served as Police Chief of the Dallas Police Department, commanding the ninth-largest police department in the country. In Dallas, Garcia introduced a comprehensive Use of Force Dashboard providing transparency and accountability, brought in experts to study the use of force, worked with criminologists to develop a Crime Plan, and supported the formation of a Community Advisory Board to ensure ongoing dialogue with residents, city leaders, and police associations.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Garcia’s energetic, hands-on leadership style, along with 21st Century Policing practices, has taken the criminal elements off the streets in an unbiased way and reduced crime while maintaining the support of his command.
Garcia also served as President of Major Cities Chiefs Association, a professional organization of police executives from across the United States and Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Management from Union Institute and University and also attended the De Anza College in Cupertino, CA, where he studied Administration of Justice.
Vernon Hale
Chief Vernon Hale is a distinguished law enforcement executive with over three decades of experience leading and transforming police organizations across the United States. He most recently served as Assistant Chief of Police for the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD), a premier Maryland law enforcement agency with an authorized strength of 1,736, reduced from 1,786 sworn officers, 329 professional staff, and a budget of $420 million. Since his appointment on November 21, 2021, Chief Hale has overseen critical components of the department, including the Office of Community First, Bureaus of Patrol, Homeland Security, Investigations, Forensics and Evidence, Administration, Media Relations, and Financial Management. Under his leadership, PGPD has successfully reduced violent and overall crime while strengthening community partnerships and stakeholder collaboration.
Chief Hale previously served as Chief of Police for the historic Galveston Police Department in Texas, where he was appointed in December 2017 and began serving on January 2, 2018. As the third externally selected Chief in the department’s long history —established in 1839—he led 168 sworn officers and advanced strategic initiatives that modernized operations and deepened community engagement.
He began his career with the Dallas Police Department in 1991, dedicating over 26 years to service and rising to the rank of Deputy Chief. During his tenure, he commanded the Narcotics Division and led the South Central and Southwest Patrol Divisions, demonstrating a relentless commitment to public safety and operational excellence.
Chief Hale holds an AAS in Criminal Justice, a BAAS emphasizing Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, and Dispute Resolution, and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, all from the University of North Texas. He has also served as a faculty member at University of North Texas, University of Phoenix Online, Sam Houston State University, and El Centro College. His leadership development includes completion of the FBI National Academy, PERF’s Senior Management Institute for Police, Institute for Law Enforcement
Administration, FEMA’s Integrated Emergency Management Program, Leadership Bootcamp, and the Leadership Command College at Sam Houston State University.
His outstanding service has been recognized through numerous awards, including the UNT School of Criminal Justice Alumni of the Year, Kappa Alpha Psi Achievement Award, German Marshall Fellow Award, Urban League of Greater Dallas Torch Award, NAACP Community Champion Award, and more. He was appointed an Admiral in the Texas Navy by the Governor, further honoring his lifelong dedication to public service.
Chief Hale is widely respected for his visionary leadership, commitment to justice, and deep-rooted belief in community-centered policing.
Emada Tingirides
Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides is a 30-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), known for her visionary leadership, deep operational expertise, and unwavering commitment to building safer, more connected communities. She currently serves as the Commanding Officer of LAPD’s Operations Central Bureau, where she leads public safety efforts across a major metropolitan region that includes Downtown Los Angeles.
In her current role, Deputy Chief Tingirides oversees a full spectrum of law enforcement operations, including the department’s response to First Amendment demonstrations, deployment planning, and the coordination of large-scale events such as professional sports, concerts, and civic celebrations. Her leadership reflects a strong focus on constitutional policing, officer readiness, and multi-agency coordination in high-pressure environments.
Throughout her LAPD career, Deputy Chief Tingirides has held a variety of frontline and executive command assignments across the city. She began her service in West Los Angeles and Central Division before taking on the role of Senior Lead Officer in Southwest Division, where she focused on neighborhood engagement and problem-solving. Promoted to Sergeant, she led the Community Relations Office at Southeast Division, where she worked to rebuild trust in historically underserved communities through proactive outreach and consistent presence. She went on to play a central role in the development and implementation of a nationally recognized relationship-based policing model that embedded officers in public housing communities. This approach significantly reduced violent crime and strengthened community trust, eventually becoming a dedicated bureau within LAPD.
As a Lieutenant, she served as a Watch Commander at 77th Street Division. Upon promotion to Captain, she returned to Southeast Division as the Patrol Commanding Officer, leading patrol operations, advancing crime reduction strategies, and mentoring field supervisors.
In 2015, Deputy Chief Tingirides was named the Public Official of the Year by Governing Magazine and one of Los Angeles’ Most Influential Women by Los Angeles Magazine. She was also a distinguished guest of First Lady Michelle Obama during the State of the Union Address. Tingirides obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from National University and a Master of Advanced Study in Criminology, Law, and Society from the University of California, Irvine.
