“Anytime you get a new chief, people are going to take notice,” Captain Chris Britt said.
FORT WORTH, Texas — The Fort Worth Police Department is seeing a surge in officer applications this year.
The department recently released its latest recruitment video — one that prominently features new Police Chief Eddie Garcia and city leaders pledging their full support for those who wear the badge.
“I think what’s really helping us a lot is that support we’re getting outside the police department as well,” Captain Chris Britt said.
The new video highlights a united message from Fort Worth leadership, emphasizing community trust and appreciation for those who patrol the city streets.
“I’m Fort Worth City Manager Jay Chapa, and in Fort Worth, we believe safety is important. That’s why we support our police department,” Jay Chapa said.
“In our city, we stand firmly behind our police department. We back the blue and, importantly, I support you,” Mayor Mattie Parker said.
So far in 2025, Fort Worth PD has received 3,952 officer applications — more than half arriving after Eddie Garcia became a candidate for chief.
“Anytime you get a new chief, people are going to take notice,” Captain Chris Britt said. “You saw our chief went out and immediately put out a video announcing where he stood and his philosophy on things.”
Experts say that a public show of support can have a real impact on recruiting. Especially since police departments across the country are competing to fill their ranks with new recruits, offering excellent pay, incentives, and a promising career.
TCU Assistant Dean Johnny Nhan studies police departments in DFW and around the country. He has taken unofficial polls of his students about whether they are interested in becoming police officers after earning their criminal justice degrees. He believes police departments that promote officer support from city leaders and managers will have an advantage when it comes to recruiting. He even touches on it in his book titled: Issues and Controversies in Policing Today.
“That could open up a different pool of applicants who historically have not applied to police departments,” Nhan said.
His book is a thought-provoking exploration of today’s policing challenges. It delves into contemporary topics ranging from police misconduct and racial profiling to LGBTQ officers and policing technologies. These topics are grounded in theory, research, and practice. This second edition features two new chapters covering: the critical shortage of police officers and the conflict and tensions between street cops and management cops.
Since the first edition, the author has undergone the police academy and became a reserve police officer. This new and unique perspective, going from academic to practitioner, adds depth, bringing firsthand experience to the discussion throughout this text.
Right now, 1,728 of the department’s 1,906 officer positions are filled.
Britt, who joined Fort Worth PD 20 years ago at age 22, said he’s confident the department is heading in the right direction — especially with a new generation of young recruits ready to serve.
“I’m still here today,” Captain Chris Britt said.