Fort Worth began accepting applications for Chief of Police on May 5, as Chief Neil Noakes prepares to retire after 25 years with the department.
Chief Noakes, who joined the department in 2000 and rose to the top position in 2021, has announced his intention to step down at the end of May. The city is now racing to find his replacement through an expedited search process. City leaders hope to have a new police chief in place by August, CBS News reported.
Earlier this year, Fort Worth City Manager Jay Chapa said he would “more than likely” ask an executive assistant chief to fill the role in the interim.
Fort Worth officially began accepting applications earlier this month, marking the first concrete step toward identifying new leadership for the police department. The city has opened the application window as part of its comprehensive search strategy.
Community leaders have raised concerns about how the selection will unfold.
Michael Bell, Senior Pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Church, has expressed worries regarding transparency and public engagement in the hiring procedures. The criticism stems from previous major hiring decisions that reportedly lacked sufficient public input.
In an April statement, the City of Fort Worth announced that it was seeking “community feedback on what qualities and priorities the next Police Chief should have,” providing a link to a survey that residents can fill out.
“Your confidential input, along with that of other community members and members of the Fort Worth Police Department, will be considered as part of the overall selection process,” the statement read.
Noakes’ retirement will conclude a significant chapter for the department. His career with Fort Worth police spans over two decades, with his final four years as Chief.
The search comes at a challenging time for police departments nationwide. Law enforcement agencies nationwide continue to navigate complex issues of public trust, community relations, and evolving approaches to public safety.