Eddie Garcia, Dallas police chief, announces retirement to accept position in Austin

Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia, who has been in the role since 2021, is set to retire and take on a new position as an assistant city manager in Austin, overseeing public safety. Garcia reached an agreement earlier this year to stay with the City of Dallas through 2027. In a statement, Austin city manager T.C. Broadnax announced that Garcia will assume his new role on November 4, 2024, overseeing various public safety agencies in Austin. Despite being courted for police chief roles in other cities like Houston, Garcia expressed his commitment to Dallas, stating that it is the right place to complete his service. Under the agreement with Dallas, Garcia would receive a retention bonus every six months starting in November 2024, along with a year’s severance pay if terminated before 2027. He also agreed to assist in selecting a new police chief for Dallas before his departure. Since his arrival, Garcia has been credited with reducing crime and improving morale in Dallas. The move to Austin will reunite Garcia with Broadnax, who left Dallas to become Austin’s city manager. This decision comes after former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo declined a new assistant city manager role, citing “politics and power struggles.” The appointment of Lisa Davis as the new police chief in Austin was also recently announced. Overall, Garcia’s departure marks a significant change in leadership for both Dallas and Austin’s law enforcement agencies.

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