Dallas police chief to retire from LE, take city manager position in Austin

By Joanna Putman
Police1

AUSTIN, Texas — Dallas Police Chief Eddie García is set to retire from his position and transition to a new role as assistant city manager overseeing public safety in Austin, the city confirmed to the Austin American-Statesman.

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García will begin his new position on Nov. 4, replacing Bruce Mills, who retired in August, according to the Statesman report. He will be responsible for overseeing several key departments, including Austin Fire, Austin Police, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services and Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

In a memo to the Mayor and City Council obtained by the Statesman, Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax praised García’s work in Dallas, highlighting his contributions to transparency and accountability in law enforcement.

“In Dallas, he introduced a comprehensive use of force dashboard, worked with criminologists to develop a crime plan and supported the formation of a Community Advisory Board,” Broadnax wrote.

García’s appointment comes shortly after the city named Lisa Davis as the new chief of the Austin Police Department, according to the report. García, who has over 30 years of law enforcement experience, had been considered for the role of police chief in Austin earlier this year but did not apply.

Before leading the Dallas Police Department, García spent 29 years with the San Jose Police Department, where he became chief in 2016. He also serves as president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

García will be one of five assistant city managers in Austin, each overseeing different city departments, according to the report. His move follows that of other top Dallas officials who joined Austin’s leadership team after Broadnax assumed the role of city manager.

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