DALLAS — Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia is staying in the city after receiving interest from both Houston and Austin for chief openings there, officials announced Thursday.
Interim City Manager Kim Tolbert said in a news release that Garcia has agreed to a plan that will keep him in Dallas through at least mid-2027. Garcia's salary will remain $306,440.40 but starting this November he will receive a retention bonus of $10,000 every six months.
In return, Garcia is committing to stay in Dallas until at least May 2027. Also, if a Dallas city manager before then decides to fire Garcia "for convenience" then Garcia will be paid a year's salary, the news release said.
If Garcia resigns from his role or is fired "for his individual work performance" or is convicted of a crime, he will not receive the payment.
“This was complicated, but we got it done,” Tolbert said. “If this was NFL Football, we were able to keep Chief Garcia on the Dallas Team; he’s the right quarterback to lead our police department. We certainly didn’t want to lose him to free agency.”
Garcia in a statement said Dallas is the "right place to complete my service."
“To live and work in Dallas is to love Dallas,” Garcia said. “This is the right place to complete my service, and I know your police officers are honored to serve Dallas residents. We will keep doing our jobs with excellence and results.”
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson in a statement praised Garcia and his decision to stay.
"Dallas is fortunate to have such a capable and committed police chief at the helm of our police department," Johnson said. "Chief Garcia’s dedication to Dallas has been invaluable in driving significant improvement in our city’s public safety. His leadership and data-driven strategies have led to record decreases in violent crime and have fostered trust throughout the Dallas community."
Several Dallas police associations -- including the Dallas Police Association, the National Latino Law Enforcement Organization (NLLEO) and the Asian Peace Officers Association -- last week held a news conference urging city leaders to find a way to keep Garcia, who reportedly drew interest from Houston and Austin regarding their open chief roles there.
George Aranda with NNLEO said in a statement to WFAA:
“We are pleased with the commitment that the city, city leaders and especially City Manager Kim Tolbert has exercised in presenting a plan to retain Chief Eddie Garcia. It’s clear that through his leadership and dedication to the community, City of Dallas and the rank and file of the officers of the Dallas Police Department he is the right person to continue to drive this department in the right direction.”
Houston's interest in Garcia becoming its police chief comes as city officials last week accepted Chief Troy Finner's retirement.
Finner's departure left an opening for a department that employs around 5,300 officers and more than 1,000 civilian staffers. The Dallas Police Department, by comparison, has around 3,200 officers and around 600 civilian staffers.
Houston city officials have not yet named any potential replacements for Finner, and Garcia did not comment on any potential link to him and the opening in Houston.
Austin's interest in Garcia stemmed from the fact that its chief role has also been open since its previous chief, Joseph Chacon, retired in August, and because former Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax, who hired Garcia, is now Austin's city manager.