FORT WORTH, Tx. — Fort Worth City Manager David Cooke announced his decision to fire Fort Worth Police Chief and former Baltimore Police Commissioner nominee Joel Fitzgerald on Monday.
Cooke says the change in leadership was necessary for the residents of Fort Worth and the members serving in the police department.
“As the City Manager for the City of Fort Worth, it is my responsibility to make decisions and recommendations in the best interest of this community,” Cooke said. “Today, I’ve made the decision to remove Joel Fitzgerald as the Chief of Police for the Fort Worth Police Department.”
Fitzgerald was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the Fort Worth Police Department in October 2015. He was considered for the position as Baltimore Police Commissioner after he was nominated by former Mayor Catherine Pugh. Fitzgerald later withdrew from the nomination as the leader of the Baltimore Police Department due to the illness of his child. This then led to the recent nomination of the city's current police commissioner Michael Harrison.
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Executive Assistant Chief Edwin Kraus will replace Fitzgerald as interim Chief of Police for Fort Worth.
