DALLAS — Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia sat down for a one-on-one with WFAA to set the record straight after news surfaced confirming that he would be leaving Dallas for Austin.
Garcia said that he planned to announce his retirement first to his officers and the department, but the news leaked out of Dallas City Hall on Thursday before he had the chance.
"It was awful," Garcia said. "It’s terrible. I mean, my rank and file... they are the most important thing that I’ve had since I’ve been a police chief. For them to hear that way. Listen, I’m not going to worry myself about who did it, where it came from, what have you. But I got robbed of being able to say goodbye to a 33-year career."
Garcia says he is leaving at a time when he believes the department is in better shape than when he took over 3 and a half years ago. Violent crime is decreasing for the fourth year in a row, officer morale is up, and he says he built trust with the community.
”I mean there’s never a right time to go. But I also didn’t want to give the keys to a broken department to someone. So, when people say why is he leaving now, you know when things are going positive that’s the time to leave," Garcia said.
He says his decision came after much reflection and a desire to spend more time with his children and to have a life.
”Anyone who says that there’s any balance doesn’t really know the job because there is none and my kids are getting older. You know they’re young adults and hopefully starting their own family soon and I don’t want to waste a day," he said.
Garcia wants to make it clear that he is not leaving because of City Hall politics or disputes between Mayor Eric Johnson who he says he likes and respects and former city manager T.C. Broadnax who is making Garcia an Assistant City Manager over Public Safety in Austin.
“I'm not leaving because of any ballot measures. I'm not leaving for acrimony. I'm leaving because it's my time to retire from law enforcement. And there's an opportunity to work with individuals that I respect greatly," he said.
Garcia says leaving policing after more than 30 years was one of the most difficult decisions of his life.
”I was a kid from Puerto Rico. I didn’t speak English and if it wasn’t for the San Jose Police Department and the men and women of that department I would have never gotten here. If it wasn’t for the men and women of the Dallas Police Department, I would never get my next opportunity. I’m very happy that people gave me a chance. It’s been a tremendous ride that I will look fondly on.”
Garcia was the first Latino chief in the Dallas Police Department’s 140-year history and DPD will be the last badge he wears, and he hopes the next chief will come from inside the department. Dallas has two Executive Chiefs, Chief Mike Igo and Chief Monique Alex. Both have more than 20 years of experience at DPD and are well respected in the Department.
”I would hope that they take a very hard look at the men and women that are in these walls before they do an outside search.”
Garcia says his heart is still in Dallas and isn’t saying goodbye forever. He says he’ll be back every football season to watch his beloved Dallas Cowboys.
”Listen I was a Cowboys fan before I spoke English. So, I’ll be a star, I’ll be a fan of the star, I was a fan before these current players were here and I will be a fan of the star when they leave.”
Garcia's official last day is Nov. 1 and then he'll head to Austin to start his job as Assistant City Manager over Public Safety.
Watch Cheif Eddie Garcia's full interview below: