Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia took a direct hit from pepper balls in a recent training demonstration, not just to test a potential new non-lethal tool, but to send a powerful message of transparency and trust to the community.
In a video posted to X on February 5, the chief stood in an open field, absorbed the impact, and stated, “That last one hit. I’m going to comply.”
We’re always pushing for better, safer tools for @fortworthpd and our community.
As we look at PepperBall as a new non lethal option, I def. had to volunteer first! pic.twitter.com/ivvjOYNVNk
— Chief Eddie Garcia (@fwpdchiefgarcia) February 5, 2026
Sgt. P.A. Vega told The Dallas Express the Chief volunteered to take the public hit as the “department is testing pepper balls as a new non-lethal de-escalation tool, and he wanted to visibly demonstrate confidence in the system’s safety and effectiveness.”
Pepper balls are not currently a standard option for officers in Fort Worth, according to Vega. The department is drafting a policy on the use of pepper balls, but it has not yet been finalized. The program is still undergoing evaluation and testing.
If the proposal is not approved, Vega stated that officers will have limited options: “officers would have fewer non-lethal options for detaining or controlling suspects without escalating to higher levels of force.”
Officer Daniel Segura told The Dallas Express that Garcia remains, in many respects, a “patrol officer.”
“He’s not a stranger to that. So he said, ‘Yeah, I’ll try it,’” Segura said. “It’s also leadership, when you have your top Chief showing not just to officers but to the public, to citizens, that he cares for what these tools and technology and non-lethal weapons do.”
Segura said the department’s SWAT team usually tests and manages non-lethal weapons in the early stages.
“It starts off with our SWAT unit, then it goes to a specialized unit, and eventually, if it is needed, it goes to patrol,” he said. “It’s always a work in progress to see where they can be better utilized.”
Segura pointed to the example of tasers, which Fort Worth police first introduced around 2001.
“We only had one taser per division, and that taser was actually in a case in the office with the supervisor,” Segura said. “The officer responds to a call, and there’s a situation where he goes – ‘I can probably use the taser here.’ He will call on the radio and say, ‘Can the supervisor bring me a taser?’”
Segura said the approval process can be slow, but officials always consider budget, safety, and training.
“It goes through rigorous training, and we develop a policy for everyone’s safety,” Segura said. “We have options in our belt, but those are the resources we have. In my opinion, my number one tool is my voice and understanding.”
Dallas Police Department: Pepper Balls Approved as Less-Than-Lethal Option
In Dallas, the police department has approved the use of pepper balls, said Senior Public Information Officer Corbin Rubinson to The Dallas Express. He said the department’s other less-than-lethal options include pepper spray, tasers, and foam impact rounds.
General Order 902.02 governs how Dallas police can use pepper balls, aiming to help resolve issues in “as humane and safe a manner” as possible. Officers must take training every two years.
Dallas police can use pepper balls when it is unsafe to physically approach a suspect, to avoid the use of higher levels of force, to disperse unruly or rioting crowds, or to gain control inside a detention facility.
“Officers receive extensive and ongoing training in the response continuum,” Rubinson said. “The Dallas Police Department consistently evaluates our training and procedures to keep our officers and the public safe.”
