Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia is marking the first three months of his tenure with a bold plan to upgrade equipment, expand manpower, and strengthen regional cooperation.
Fort Worth Police Chief’s 90-Day Vision
Garcia said he has spent much of his time “out of the office.” He highlighted the city’s support, noting, “When you really take a look around, there are things that, whether it’s a state-of-the-art training academy, state-of-the-art range, whether it’s a brand-new helicopter. There’s just tremendous support in the city,” Garcia said.
He rode the streets with patrol units and the Directed Response Unit, confronting violent crime firsthand. He added, “In the last four months, there have been dozens of individuals that my men and women have risked their lives to take off the street that have committed gun violence, that have been released in our back out in our streets, within four months, dozens.”
Garcia hopes to raise these concerns with Texas lawmakers in 2026.
New Resources and Regional Collaboration
Among the department’s new resources is an upgraded Real Time Crime Center, costing nearly $6 million. Garcia called the center a game-changer, saying, “The center a game-changer that will boost connectivity among law enforcement agencies in the region in the coming months.”
He noted that “There’s almost 30 agencies in the area that have signed tentative agreements. Our goal is to be a regional real-time crime center. Criminals don’t know boundaries. They don’t know city limits.”
Garcia has been in weekly meetings with local and federal partners ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which officials call one of the largest security operations for police chiefs in North Texas. He said, “A lot of our focus is in assisting Arlington, obviously, with the event and what they will need from us, or if Dallas needed assistance or really any of our other agencies, but also we have to remember that we also all have cities that we have to police during the summer.”
Future Growth and Community Safety
The department expects to fill its ranks to 1,906 officers by the end of 2026, with room for future growth. Garcia said, “Now’s the time to talk to city leaders and have conversations about what does that growth looks like? In a responsible way. What can we recruit? What can we train?”
He reflected on his return to policing: “Calm seas never made a good sailor. Every morning I wake up, and I have the honor to be able to put this uniform on again.”
Key Takeaways
- $6 million Real-Time Crime Center aims to boost regional connectivity.
- Goal to reach 1,906 officers by 2026, with plans for responsible growth.
- Focus on regional collaboration for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and ongoing community policing.
Fort Worth’s chief is pushing a comprehensive plan that blends new technology, expanded personnel, and cross-agency cooperation to keep the city safer as it prepares for a major international event and future growth.
