FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF)- The City of Fort Worth officially announces Ed Kraus as the permanent Police Chief for the Fort Worth Police Department. Kraus has been with the department for 27 years.
The department has been under fire after recent officer involved shootings and Kraus says he’s determined to keep improving community relations moving forward. “We’ve definitely had some challenges in the past 6 months, challenges I couldn’t have gotten through without my faith, my family and the support of the Fort Worth Police Department,” he said.
Kraus said some of the initiatives he’s working on is having non traditional partners, people with a criminal record or have had bad experiences with police, to train recruits and give them a different perspective on how to handle situations.
Some community members were concerned why there weren’t more candidates considered, with no community feedback. City Manager David Cooke says a national search wasn’t needed. “We have received so many positive comments about his leadership, about his transparency, about being visible in the community…I would say we were getting all kinds of public and community feedback,” said Cooke.
Fort Worth Mayor released a statement on this decision: “The decision to continue the leadership of the Fort Worth Police Department under Chief Kraus is the right choice. I have always been impressed with Kraus’ professionalism, leadership, and rapport with the community, rank and file officers, and city management. A homegrown officer who has served Fort Worth for more than 26 years, Kraus is a well-respected leader with a servant’s heart.”
The Fort Worth Police Department has been without a permanent chief since Joel Fitzgerald was fired in May.
Kraus was the Interim Police Chief while former Chief Fitzgerald had been fighting for his job back and was denied a temporary injunction to keep the city from hiring a new chief.
However, Fitzgerald’s Attorney Stephen Kennedy says Kraus’ new position may be temporary. “The city has represented that if the jury decides they want to reinstate Fitzgerald after a trial, the city will terminate whoever is in that position and reinstate him,” said Kennedy. “I don’t have a problem with Ed Kraus as long as he understands it may be temporary,” said Kennedy. Fitzgerald claims he was wrongfully fired and wants to clear his name.
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