Eddie Garc铆a wants to be a police chief who strengthens public trust and builds bridges between law enforcement and communities of color, all while cracking down on crime.
He鈥檚 already done that as Dallas鈥� police chief, Garc铆a said, and now, he鈥檚 eager to do so in Fort Worth.
Garc铆a, 54, vowed to lead with compassion, integrity and accountability as he gave his first public remarks since being .
鈥淵ou will be treated with dignity and respect by your police department,鈥� Garc铆a told the public during a news conference Friday morning. 鈥淲e will work to earn and maintain your trust every single day.鈥�
Garc铆a, born in Puerto Rico and fluent in Spanish, will be Fort Worth鈥檚 28th police chief. He starts the job Sept. 22.
His racial identity is beneficial to his role as police chief, Garc铆a said, particularly in a city such as Fort Worth with its large Latino community. Fort Worth鈥檚 population of one million residents is 63% people of color and 35% of those are Hispanic, according to 2025 census estimates.
After moving from Puerto Rico to California as a child, Garc铆a said, he had to learn to speak and write in English. He grew up in a multigenerational household with a single mother and 鈥渄ealt with a lot, a lot of issues鈥� that immigrants face.
鈥淎side from the fact that Puerto Rico鈥檚 part of the United States, I grew up like a lot of our immigrant communities,鈥� Garc铆a said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 molded me to be the chief I am because, as a chief, I want people around the table that have different perspectives in life.鈥�
That relatability will help guide how Garc铆a approaches building relationships across the city. He said he looks forward to hosting community meetings in English in one part of Fort Worth before 鈥渟hooting across town and doing that same community meeting in Spanish.鈥�
When asked how he envisions the Fort Worth Police Department鈥檚 role in enforcing federal immigration orders, Garc铆a said, 鈥淩egardless of immigration status, we go after the criminal act.鈥� He noted that his soon-to-be department has no authority over what happens to undocumented immigrants who are lawfully arrested for a crime.
Fort Worth police book arrestees into the Tarrant County Jail, which screens inmates鈥� immigration statuses and flags undocumented immigrants for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration has increased daily arrests and deportations after the president promised to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. City officials told the Fort Worth Report earlier this month they , but neighboring Keller recently opted into such an agreement.
Gar铆ca said his own conversations with ICE officials showed the entity鈥檚 focus is on detaining undocumented immigrants who are violent criminals. Municipal police are obligated by state law to assist in responding to violent crime, he said, so his advice to immigrant communities is simple.
鈥淒on鈥檛 become a priority, and keep living your lives,鈥� he said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 commit a crime, and you more than likely will not be a priority.鈥�
Garc铆a said he plans to 鈥渂e present鈥� by attending community meetings, knocking doors to meet residents, frequenting neighborhood shopping centers and meeting the Fort Worth residents where they鈥檙e at. That way, he鈥檒l learn the different dynamics, wants and needs of various communities, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really just not nuclear physics. It鈥檚 just roll up your sleeves and get out there,鈥� he said.
He said he鈥檚 open to the possibility of creating a citizen-led police oversight board 鈥� something communities of color have long asked for but . He said he plans to speak with Bonycle Sokunbi, director of the city-staffed Office of the Police Oversight Monitor, to get her feedback before issuing his own opinion.
However, he emphasized that he has worked with such a board throughout his police career and sees oversight and accountability as essential.
His compassion- and accountability-driven approach shouldn鈥檛 be mistaken for weakness, Garc铆a said during the news conference. He promised to bolster the police department鈥檚 ranks and pursue criminals 鈥渞elentlessly.鈥�
鈥淲e will defend our community, and all criminals will have every reason to fear this police department,鈥� he said.
Garc铆a is currently an assistant city manager overseeing public safety in Austin, where he worked for about nine months. Before that, he served as Dallas Police chief for about three and a half years. He began his career in law enforcement with the San Jose Police Department in California, where he held multiple positions including chief.
City Manager Jay Chapa said his decision to hire Garc铆a was 鈥渢o lean in on Eddie鈥檚 proven success鈥� leading two major U.S. cities.
鈥淗e has a track record of building trusted officers, boosting employee morale and connecting with the residents of diverse communities,鈥� Chapa said. 鈥淓ddie brings a full package of what we want to see in the next chief.鈥�
Garc铆a takes over the city鈥檚 top law enforcement post from interim Chief Robert Alldredge, who has led the department since Chief Neil Noakes鈥� retirement in May. Alldredge was a finalist for the role along with former Dallas Police Deputy Chief Vernon Hale and Emada Tingirides of the Los Angeles Police Department, who withdrew her candidacy after receiving a promotion in her hometown.
Government accountability reporter Drew Shaw contributed reporting.
Cecilia Lenzen is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org.
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