Fort Worth Names New Police Chief
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FORT WORTH (KRLD) -The city of Fort Worth has named Dr. Joel Fitzgerald its next police chief, according to City Manager David Cooke.
Fitzgerald led the third-largest municipal department in Pennsylvania since 2013. He served as chief in Missouri City, Texas, from 2009-2013 and in various command ranks in the Philadelphia Police Department between 1992 and 2009.
"Chief Fitzgerald's more than 20 years of experience, combined with his strong leadership skills and his personal commitment to community engagement and involvement, make him the best choice to lead the Fort Worth Police Department in this new era of community policing," Cooke said.
"In every position he has served, Chief Fitzgerald has been instrumental in those agencies becoming standard-bearers among jurisdictions seeking to promote community problem-solving and abate violent crime," Cooke said.
Fitzgerald is a graduate of the Harvard University Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, the FBI National Academy-Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar Program, DEA-Drug Unit Commanders Academy, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the Police Executive Research Forum.
Fitzgerald and his wife Pauline have three children and one grandchild. He is expected to begin work in Fort Worth on Oct. 19.
"Chief Fitzgerald will be a dynamic asset to Fort Worth," Cooke said. "He brings to our city a vast amount of experience, knowledge and service in the field, along with his passion for serving and protecting our communities."
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