Introduction to Eddie García
Eddie García is taking a five-figure pay cut to return to North Texas and head Fort Worth’s police force. The former Dallas police chief, who left North Texas last year to oversee Austin’s public safety agencies as an assistant city manager, agreed to a base salary of $306,000 to helm the Fort Worth Police Department, according to an offer letter obtained Tuesday by The Dallas Morning News. That’s a decrease from his initial base salary in Austin, where he started at $327,600, according to employment records obtained in a records request by The News.
Salary and Benefits
The offer letter also includes a $10,000 relocation bonus and a department vehicle for García to use. García’s base salary as Dallas’ chief before he left was $306,440, with $10,000 retention bonuses every six months. City leaders had used pay increases in an effort to keep him in Dallas.
<img loading="lazy" style="aspect-ratio:4096 / 2732" sizes="(min-width: 1300px) 830px, (min-width: 768px) 66.66vw, 60vw" srcset="https://dmn-dallas-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RBLVWBI5MRGYFMIDKBUCGIZWEE.jpg?auth=58ae54db0ab5136055af9422b497427cde29b63d86ca80c8e1d1e186fb1e11e3&quality=80&width=250 250w, https://dmn-dallas-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RBLVWBI5MRGYFMIDKBUCGIZWEE.jpg?auth=58ae54db0ab5136055af9422b497427cde29b63d86ca80c8e1d1e186fb1e11e3&quality=80&width=430 430w, https://dmn-dallas-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RBLVWBI5MRGYFMIDKBUCGIZWEE.jpg?auth=58ae54db0ab5136055af9422b497427cde29b63d86ca80c8e1d1e186fb1e11e3&quality=80&width=830 830w" class="dmnc_images-modern-image-module__QFaG- max-w-full h-auto text-white dmnc_images-modern-image-module__9Zlll bg-gray-light object-contain" width="4096" height="2732" src="https://dmn-dallas-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RBLVWBI5MRGYFMIDKBUCGIZWEE.jpg?auth=58ae54db0ab5136055af9422b497427cde29b63d86ca80c8e1d1e186fb1e11e3&quality=80&width=830" alt="Former Dallas police Chief Eddie García speaks during a press conference about releasing body-camera footage showing officers fatally shoot a man who they said was breaking into an apartment in northwest Dallas, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, at Dallas Police Department. ")
Former Dallas police Chief Eddie García speaks during a press conference about releasing body-camera footage showing officers fatally shoot a man who they said was breaking into an apartment in northwest Dallas, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, at Dallas Police Department.
Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer
Career Background
García led the Dallas police for about 3½ years. Before that, he spent about 30 years in California with the San Jose Police Department, rising through its ranks before leaving as its chief. His appointment in Dallas made him the city’s first Latino police chief. In that time, he built a national profile as a law enforcement leader, drawing attention for his focus on data-driven policing, community engagement and efforts to rebuild trust between officers and the public.
Previous Experience
Last year, as word circulated that other cities were courting him, Dallas city leaders committed to keeping García among the highest-paid police chiefs in the state. García ultimately left for Austin. Speaking with The News last month, he said his rationale for leaving Dallas — which was partly informed by wanting to move closer to his son and newly born grandson — felt right at the time, but he later began to miss being more directly involved in leading a police force.
New Appointment
In April, Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert selected Daniel Comeaux, a longtime Drug Enforcement Administration special agent who was last overseeing the agency’s Houston Division, as the city’s next police chief. Comeaux has an annual salary of $310,000, according to the offer letter he signed after accepting the job.
García is starting sooner than city officials initially announced. The Fort Worth City Council will consider the hire on Sept. 16, with his first day scheduled for the following day, according to Sana Syed, a city spokesperson.
Conclusion
Eddie García’s decision to take a pay cut and return to North Texas to head the Fort Worth Police Department is a significant development in the law enforcement community. With his extensive experience and national profile, García is well-equipped to lead the department and make a positive impact on the community. As he begins his new role, it will be interesting to see how he approaches the challenges facing the department and the city.
FAQs
Q: How much is Eddie García’s base salary as the new chief of the Fort Worth Police Department?
A: Eddie García’s base salary is $306,000.
Q: What benefits does García receive in addition to his base salary?
A: García receives a $10,000 relocation bonus and a department vehicle.
Q: How long did García lead the Dallas police?
A: García led the Dallas police for about 3½ years.
Q: Who is the new police chief of Dallas?
A: Daniel Comeaux is the new police chief of Dallas, with an annual salary of $310,000.
Q: When will García start his new role as chief of the Fort Worth Police Department?
A: García will start his new role on September 17, after the Fort Worth City Council considers the hire on September 16.
