Dallas begins nationwide search for the next DPD Police Chief and prepares for fire-rescue chief recruitment
Dallas, Texas – The City of Dallas has officially begun a nationwide search for its next Dallas Police Department (DPD) Chief of Police while also preparing to launch a regional and local search for a new Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) Chief. City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert made the announcement, emphasizing the importance of strong leadership in guiding the city’s public safety initiatives.
A Commitment to Leadership and Public Safety
The dual recruitment process aligns with Tolbert’s 100-Day Plan, titled “Building on Our Momentum: The Journey Forward.” She confirmed that both searches will be conducted aggressively and concurrently to ensure they are completed by early spring.
“Filling these mission-critical leadership positions is a commitment I made in my recent 100-Day plan, Building on Our Momentum: The Journey Forward. We will stagger and concurrently run both processes aggressively to ensure they are both filled by early Spring,” said Tolbert.
She further stressed the need for a visionary leader to head the Dallas Police Department, someone capable of building trust, driving innovation, nurturing talent, and implementing meaningful crime reduction strategies.
Experienced Search Firm Engaged for Recruitment
To streamline the recruitment process and ensure efficiency and cost savings, Dallas has hired Public Sector Search & Consulting, Inc. (PSSC) to conduct both searches. PSSC is the only U.S. search firm exclusively dedicated to public safety executive recruitment, having led more public safety searches in the past five years than any other firm. Their experience includes 15 major U.S. city searches, as well as Dallas’s last two police chief searches.
Chief Dominique Artis, Chief of Public Safety, expressed confidence in the recruitment process, stating:
“PSSC is an expert in robust recruiting for top talent, and we expect a diverse list of highly qualified candidates for this. Public Safety remains a top priority for Dallas, and we are confident that we will identify the right candidate to support our continued goal of being one of the safest large cities in the U.S.”
Transition and Leadership Changes
The Dallas Police Department is currently under the leadership of Interim Chief Michael T. Igo, who was appointed in September after Chief Eddie Garcia’s retirement. Meanwhile, the search for the Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief will officially begin on or before February 14, with more details expected to follow next week.
The City of Dallas remains committed to finding the best candidates to lead its public safety departments. As the search progresses, residents and stakeholders can stay updated through official city announcements and recruitment materials.
For more details on the memorandum, scheduled timeline, and recruitment brochure, click here.
