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Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia has told city officials that he plans to retire from law enforcement and is in line to take a new position with the city of Austin, multiple sources told WFAA. Rebecca Lopez gave her instant reaction to the news.
Also, a memorandum obtained by WFAA from Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax confirmed that Garcia has been appointed to an Assistant City Manager role overseeing the city's public safety departments, including police, fire and emergency services. Garcia will be one of four Assistant City Managers, joining Veronica Briseño, Robert Goode and Stephanie Hayden-Howard.
The move means Garcia would be joining Broadnax, Dallas' former city manager who took the same role in Austin earlier this year.
While it's not yet clear when Garcia will leave the Dallas Police Department, the memorandum from Broadnax said Garcia's new role will be effective Nov. 4.
Garcia's planned departure from Dallas comes just months after he and the city reached an agreement for him to stay on as police chief, after he reportedly received interest from Austin and Houston for open roles there.
Interim City Manager Kim Tolbert said in a news release in May that Garcia had agreed to a plan that will keep him in Dallas through at least mid-2027. Under the agreement, Garcia's salary would remain $306,440.40 but starting this November he would receive a retention bonus of $10,000 every six months.
FULL STORY: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-police-chief-eddie-garcia-stepping-down-for-new-role-in-austin/287-bde7c3ba-8d06-432d-8cfa-49c97f334cdd