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‘We back the blue’: Texas PD’s new chief, recruitment video drive surge in applicants

Nearly 4,000 applications have been submitted to Fort Worth PDin 2025; 1,728 of the department’s 1,906 positions are currently filled

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Fort Worth Police Department is experiencing a sharp rise in officer applications this year, with nearly 4,000 submitted so far in 2025, WFAA reported.

Department officials credit the surge to visible support from city leadership and a new recruitment video featuring its new Chief Eddie Garcia, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and City Manager Jay Chapa. The video emphasizes public trust, safety and backing for officers.

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“In our city, we stand firmly behind our police department,” Parker says in the video. “We back the blue and, importantly, I support you.”

So far in 2025, Fort Worth PD has received 3,952 officer applications — with more than half submitted after Garcia was named a candidate for police chief.

“Anytime you get a new chief, people are going to take notice,” Captain Chris Britt told WFAA. “You saw our chief went out and immediately put out a video announcing where he stood and his philosophy on things.”

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Britt, who has been with the department for two decades, said that the level of public support is resonating with potential recruits.

“What’s really helping us a lot is that support we’re getting outside the police department as well,” Britt said.

Of the department’s 1,906 budgeted officer positions, 1,728 are currently filled, according to the report.
Recruitment challenges remain widespread across the country, as law enforcement agencies compete to attract new officers with competitive pay and benefits. But Fort Worth may have found an edge by promoting a united message from city officials.

“In Fort Worth, we believe safety is important. That’s why we support our police department,” Chapa said in the video.

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Joanna Putman is an Associate Editor and newswriter at Police1, where she has been covering law enforcement topics since August 2023. Based in Orlando, Florida, she holds a journalism degree from the University of Florida and spent two years working in nonprofit local newsrooms, gaining experience in community-focused reporting. Married to a law enforcement officer, she works hard to highlight the challenges and triumphs of those who serve and protect. Have a news tip? Email her at news@lexipol.com