Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus is retiring, and the city has announced the six finalists in the running to replace him.
The candidates are:
- Julie A. Swearingin, an assistant chief in the Fort Worth Police Department
- Neil Noakes, a deputy chief in the Fort Worth Police Department
- Wendy Baimbridge, an assistant chief of the Houston Police Department
- Troy Gay, an assistant chief in the Austin Police Department
- Derick D. Miller, Carrollton’s chief of police
- Christopher C. Jones, an assistant sheriff with the Las Vegas Municipal Police Department
Kraus announced his plans to retire back in July. He has been with the Fort Worth Police Department for almost 30 years, and he became interim chief in the spring of 2019.
Whoever gets hired will report to Fort Worth Deputy City Manager Jay Chapa, who said he’s looking for someone with experience making culture changes.
"At the end of the day, we also need to have somebody that has the ability to make hard choices, and to understand that policing is changing and that we’re gonna need someone that can guide the department into the changing environment,” he said.
Chapa said one culture change he's looking for is greater accountability. He referenced a city-commissioned, independent report that found that officers do not always follow department policy and training in the field.
“We want to make sure we find someone that’s going to be able to carry these things through, put these things in place and ensure that they’re actually utilized and become a part of the culture of the department,” he said.
Chapa said the candidates will meet with groups of city, community and business leaders. They will also answer questions from the public during a forum in January. He wants to make a hire by the end of that month.
The city’s police monitor, Kim Neal, will also give her input on the candidates, Chapa said. A willingness to work with her oversight efforts is a prerequisite of the job.
“That’s a given. The police monitor is in place, so anybody that’s not necessarily willing to do that shouldn’t be a police chief in Fort Worth,” he said.
Kraus will probably stay on until the beginning of March, Chapa said.
City officials have praised Kraus, who has advocated for shifting some police department funding to community programs.
He has also faced deep scrutiny during his year-and-a-half leading the department. In October 2019, a white Fort Worth police officer shot and killed Atatiana Jefferson, a Black woman, in her home. Kraus publicly apologized for the killing.
During the George Floyd protests, he was criticized for his decision to use tear gas against demonstrators on Fort Worth’s West 7th bridge.
Got a tip? Email Miranda Suarez at msuarez@kera.org. You can follow Miranda on Twitter @MirandaRSuarez.
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