Joel Fitzgerald has been chosen as the new Fort Worth Police Chief. He is expected to start on Oct. 19.
City manager David Cooke announced Wednesday that Fitzgerald was selected from the six finalists for the position.
“Chief Fitzgerald’s more than 20 years of experience, combined with his strong leadership skills and his personal commitment to community engagement and involvement, make him the best choice to lead the Fort Worth Police Department in this new era of community policing,” Cooke said in a press release.
On Sept. 29, the City Council will consider a resolution appointing Fitzgerald as police chief.
Fitzgerald has led the third-largest municipal police department in Pennsylvania since 2013.
“In every position he has served, Chief Fitzgerald has been instrumental in those agencies becoming standard-bearers among jurisdictions seeking to promote community problem-solving and abate violent crime,” Cooke said.
According to the press release, Fitzgerald earned the 2010 NAACP President’s Award for Community Policing. He also holds numerous honors for exceptional service during his career, including 17 commendations, a Police Officer of the Year Award and honors from U.S. Rep. Al Green and the Texas State House of Representatives.
According to the release, Fitzgerald holds a Ph.D. in business administration, a master’s of business administration in executive management and a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. He serves on the International Association of Chiefs of Police Forensics Committee and the Northcentral University School of Business and Technology Program Advisory Committee.
He is a graduate of the Harvard University Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, the FBI National Academy-Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar Program, DEA-Drug Unit Commanders Academy, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the Police Executive Research Forum.
Fitzgerald and his wife Pauline have three children and one grandchild.
“Chief Fitzgerald will be a dynamic asset to Fort Worth,” Cooke said. “He brings to our city a vast amount of experience, knowledge and service in the field, along with his passion for serving and protecting our communities.”