AUSTIN, Texas — The city of Austin has hired retiring Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia in a city management position overseeing public safety.
Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax made the announcement official just hours after it was reported that Garcia would retire from law enforcement.
Garcia will take over as Assistant City Manager where he'll oversee Austin Fire, Austin Police, Austin-Travis County EMS, the Downtown Austin Community Court, Forensic Science and Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
While it remains unclear when Garcia will leave the Dallas Police Department, Garcia is expected to begin his role in Austin on Nov. 4.
Garcia was widely mentioned as Austin's next possible police chief, even though he didn't apply for that job. Now he's coming to Austin in an upper management position.
"His extensive experience and deep commitment to the communities he serves makes him the ideal leader to join my executive team," Broadnax said in a statement. "I am confident that under his leadership, our public safety efforts will continue to thrive and evolve to meet the needs of our growing city."
Who is Garcia?
Garcia, who is originally from Puerto Rico, has worked for more than 30 years in law enforcement. Before joining Dallas police in December 2020, he was an officer with the San Jose Police Department, where he became chief in 2016. Garcia was also the president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
Garcia will depart Dallas just months after he and the city reached an agreement for him to stay. In May, Garcia agreed to a plan that would keep him in Dallas through at least May 2027.
In return, if a Dallas city manager before then decided to fire Garcia "for convenience" then Garcia would be paid a year's salary. Under the agreement, if Garcia resigned from his role, or was fired "for his individual work performance" or was convicted of a crime, he would not be paid.