Fort Worth Police Department

The Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) is the police department of Fort Worth, Texas, United States. Neil Noakes is the Chief of Police. FWPD is responsible for traffic and general law enforcement within the city limits of Fort Worth. Specialty divisions include investigation, K 9, bicycle patrol, and SWAT.

The Fort Worth Police Department started on April 12, 1873 when E. M. Terrell was appointed City Marshal with a force of four officers. However, the force was disbanded a month later for economic reasons. The force was re established in 1876 to cope with unruly cowboys and high levels of prostitution, with Jim Courtright being instated as City Marshal with two assisting deputies. Courtright's reputation as an Army scout and gunfighter led to an unprecedented term of nonviolence in Fort Worth. By 1887, the force had grown to six officers and a Chief of Police. The early 20th century saw many innovations to the FWPD, including motorcycles, traffic tickets, stoplights, and the city's first female officer. The mid 1900s saw even more technological advances, with the addition of a crime laboratory and radar speed detectors. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the department sought to establish better links to the community, instituting programs such as "forums," a series of monthly department citizen meetings, and the Citizens on Patrol program. In 2008, after the retirement of Chief Ralph Mendoza, Executive Deputy Patricia Kneblick was briefly appointed interim chief, making her the first woman ever to be appointed Chief of Police in Fort Worth. Jeffrey Halstead, a Commander with the Phoenix Police Department, replaced Kneblick in December 2008, making him the city's 24th chief. In 2015, Joel Fitzgerald became the 1st African American police chief of the city. Fitzgerald holds a Ph. D in Business Administration from Northcentral University; an MBA from Eastern University; and an undergraduate degree from Villanova University. He has since become the Waterloo Police Department Chief of Police. Interim Chief Ed Kraus was named until a replacement is selected by city officials. He was later selected to permanently fill the position. In 2022, Monica Martin, a native of East Fort Worth, was selected to serve as Commander of the East Division. This is history because Commander Martin is the first Black female police officer to secure an appointment within the executive staff of the Fort Worth Police Department.

The department's uniforms and badges have changed multiple times before the present standards. Early uniforms were all produced in various shades of blue, with garments ranging from coats with brass buttons to cloaks. Headwear was particularly diverse depending on the uniform, officers in the early 1900s wore custodian helmets, ten gallon cowboy hats, or slouched hats resembling those of Civil War cavalrymen. The department has worn five different badges throughout its history; the current design, which features a shield topped by a panther, was first worn in 1912. The current patch design, which features a star and longhorn head, was adopted in 1977. The current uniform consists of a navy blue shirt and pants with black tactical boots. The badge is worn on the left chest, and patches are worn on either shoulder. Ceremonial dress is similar to the duty uniform, with the addition of a white fourragère, cotton gloves, white duty belt and pouches, and a navy blue peaked cap. Officers often wear black felt (winter) or straw (summer) cowboy hats as part of the uniform (as do many other police agencies in Texas).

In 2010, officers began using either the Glock 17 or 22, in 9x19 Parabellum and .40 S&W, respectfully. This was done to reduce costs from the Sig Sauer P226.