The quest for Fort Worth's new chief of police is rounding the final corner, with the city gearing up to host a finalist forum for the top contenders. Locals will have a chance to size up the remaining candidates during an event slated for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14, at City Hall, located at 100 Fort Worth Trail. Public interaction is on the docket from 5:30-6:30 p.m., providing a window for an informal meet-and-greet in the lobby. Following that, from 6:30-8 p.m., there will be a moderated discussion inside the Council Chamber. Those unable to attend can still catch the live stream across various platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and FWTV, and for Spanish speakers, live translation will be available, as per the City of Fort Worth.
As part of the inclusive approach, city administrators are calling on their inhabitants to send through their questions prior to the forum. Submissions are open until Friday, Aug. 8. Citizen opinions will be considered critical as the city assesses the field. For those interested in the experiences and pedigrees of the contenders—comprising Chief Robert A. Alldredge Jr., Chief Eddie Garcia, and Chief Vernon Hale—detailed biographies are available for review.
The search began back in April, sparked by a community survey and collection of stakeholder feedback on what makes a desirable police chief. Mosaic Public Partners took the reins, crafting a profile and tapping into a national pool of candidates, eventually yielding an initial group of 51 contenders. This group was later whittled down to nine after a round of interviews with city leadership on June 25 and then to four finalists. Three have remained following a withdrawal on July 22, all vying to oversee Fort Worth's sizable force of 1,896 sworn officers and 574 professional staff members.
