Fort Worth Police Chief Finalists and Hiring Debate

The search for Fort Worth's next police chief has narrowed to three finalists: interim Chief Robert Alldredge, former Dallas Police Deputy Chief Vernon Hale, and former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia, now Austin's assistant city manager. Los Angeles Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides withdrew from consideration after being promoted within LAPD. Controversy surrounds Garcia’s candidacy due to his late application, raising concerns from Councilman Chris Nettles and community activists about the process's fairness and transparency. City Manager Jay Chapa maintains that accepting late applications from highly qualified candidates is standard practice if screening is ongoing. Public scrutiny has intensified, with increased information requests and debates about favoritism in the selection process. A public forum with the finalists is scheduled for August 14, and the city expects to make a final decision in September.