Public Sector Search & Consulting Seeking Police Chief for the City of Dallas

February 4, 2025 – Executive recruitment firm Public Sector Search & Consulting has been retained by the city of Dallas to lead in its search for a new police chief. Chief of police Eddie Garcia left his post in September. The assignment is being spearheaded by Gary Peterson, president and CEO of Public Sector Search. The city said they hope to have a new chief by late March or early April. In the meantime, the Dallas Police Department is being led by interim chief of police Michael Igo. A national search is underway to attract an exceptionally well-qualified candidate to lead the Dallas Police Department. This is a remarkable opportunity to oversee one of the nation’s premier law enforcement agencies, which has achieved a sustained reduction in violent crime over the past several years.
As the ninth largest and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Dallas offers unique challenges and opportunities in public safety and urban policing. The next chief of police will build on the department’s recent successes while navigating the complexities of a diverse and dynamic city. The ideal candidate will bring proven expertise in innovative crime reduction strategies, community engagement, and organizational leadership. The chief will have a vision to guide the department in advancing public safety and fostering trust with the city’s vibrant and growing population.
“Filling these mission critical leadership positions is a commitment I made in my recent 100-day plan,” said Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas city manager. “As Dallas evolves into a globally recognized City that sets the standard for excellence, it is imperative to have a visionary leader guiding Dallas Police Department into its next chapter. Our next chief must have experience building trust and legitimacy, promoting innovation, fostering talent, and implementing meaningful strategies to reduce crime.”
“Public Sector Search & Consulting is the only U.S. search firm exclusively focused on public safety, having conducted more public safety executive searches in the past five years than any other firm, including 15 major U.S. city searches and Dallas’s two previous police chief searches,” said Dominique Artis, chief of public safety. “Public Sector Search & Consulting is an expert in robust recruiting for top talent, and we expect a diverse list of highly qualified candidates for this. Public safety remains a top priority for Dallas, and we are confident that we will identify the right candidate to support our continued goal of being one the safest large cities in the U.S.”
The Dallas Police Department has a $719 million budget that supports more than 3,100 sworn officers and 600 civilian employees who work in the office of the chief or one of seven bureaus. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience building a culture of continuous improvement and accountability. They will be driven to ensure department policies and actions align with contemporary best policing practices in policing. The department currently faces a significant staffing shortage, as police officer retention is a major challenge. The recruiting and hiring practices of the new chief of police will shape Dallas Police Department for generations to come. The new chief will need to find innovative ways to recruit new employees that are more representative of the community, while providing meaningful opportunities and challenging work for existing staff. The compensation for this at-will position is competitive, with a range of $290,000 to $325,000, and will be determined based on the selected candidate’s qualifications.
Fire Chief Search
Additionally, Public Sector Search & Consulting is being used to recruit the next Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) chief. Details on that assignment have not yet been released.
Public Sector Search & Consulting is based in Rocklin, CA. Its consultants have more than 30 years of public sector leadership experience along with a track record of successful executive searches in major cities, as well as small and mid-sized municipalities, special districts, universities and community colleges.
Mr. Peterson, the firm’s founder, had a 30-year career in the public sector, serving as chief of police for the City of Martinez in the San Francisco Bay area. After retiring from law enforcement, he joined a mid-sized consulting firm where he focused on expanding the firms’ public safety practice. Mr. Peterson has recruited a broad range of senior executives for municipalities, special districts and universities. His prior placements include the following positions: city manager, chief of police, city attorney, general manager, vice president of human resources, vice president of business and finance, administrative service director, director of finance and public works director.
Related: Public Sector Search & Consulting Recruits Syracuse Police Chief
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media