New Texas Chief Returns to Law Enforcement after City Management Stint: 'Born to Be a Police Officer'

Eddie Garcia, who has led departments in San Jose and Dallas, was named the new Fort Worth police chief after serving as Austin's assistant city manager.

By Chase Rogers and Jamie Landers

Source The Dallas Morning News

Aug. 22, 2025

2 min read

What to know

Former Dallas Police Chief Eddie García was selected Thursday as the next chief of the Fort Worth Police Department after a nationwide search.
García, now an assistant city manager in Austin, previously led Dallas police for 3½ years and spent three decades with the San Jose Police Department.
He said he sought the Fort Worth role to return to policing, citing strong community support for officers and accountability.

Former Dallas Police Chief Eddie GarcÌa speaks during the Fort Worth Police Chief Finalists Forum on Aug. 14.

DALLAS — Former Dallas Police Chief Eddie García has been named the next chief of the Fort Worth Police Department, city officials announced Thursday.

Fort Worth City Manager Jay Chapa, who announced the hire in a news release, said García was one of 50 applicants from across the country. The process to pick the city’s next top cop, he wrote, began in February, and included a meet and greet, community forum and interviews with police command staff, police associations, community stakeholders and city leadership.

García, who is currently an assistant city manager in Austin, led the Dallas police department for about 3½ years. Before that, he spent about 30 years with the San Jose Police Department, leaving as its chief.

García was succeeded in April by Dallas police Chief Daniel Comeaux, formerly the special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Field Division.

At a community forum last week, García said his time in Austin taught him about city management and the other side of running a police department. But over the last eight months, he realized he was “born to be a police officer,” adding he also wanted to return to North Texas to be closer to his mother and daughter.

“At the end of the day, I’m a cop,” García said. “When I saw this opportunity come, it was a great opportunity for an amazing city that supports its police officers, but also holds their officers accountable as well.”

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