Fort Worth To Name New Police Chief

Fort Worth will announce its new police chief Tuesday morning, a city spokesman said Monday.

City Manager Dale Fisseler will inform city council members of his decision at an 8:30 am meeting, said Cecilia Jacobs, a city spokeswoman.

Acting police Chief Patricia Kneblick, who has been filling in since Chief Ralph Mendoza retired earlier this year, has been one of three finalists.

If she gets the permanent job, she would be one of the few big-city women police chiefs in the country.

The other two finalists were Atlanta police Deputy Chief George Turner and Phoenix police Commander Jerry Halstead, who oversees that city's Homeland Defense Bureau.

Chief Kneblick took Monday off and was not available for comment, said police spokesman Lt. Paul Henderson.

In Phoenix, Commander Halstead said he had been notified the announcement would come Tuesday morning, but was still awaiting word if he would be offered the job.

In Atlanta, Deputy Chief Turner said Fort Worth city leaders did notify him of their final decision, but he wouldn't reveal if he was still in the running.

"I'm a man of integrity," Turner said. "I don't want to trump their announcement."

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