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Fort Worth Police Chief Ralph Mendoza announces retirement plans
By City of Fort Worth
Dec 18, 2007
FORT WORTH — Fort Worth Police Chief Ralph Mendoza Monday announced he will retire Feb. 29, 2008.
“Throughout my career, I have had the great pleasure of watching class after class of young men and women turn into the courageous protectors of our city,” Mendoza says. “I’ve had the opportunity to attend world-class training sessions and schools, and to see my two sons now wear the same uniform I’ve worn for so many years.
“There have been challenges and heartaches, but also great accomplishments — like continued reductions in the city’s crime rate and improvements in the future of law enforcement that bring value to our badge and valor to those we’ve lost in the line of duty.”
Mendoza is the city’s 22nd police chief. He assumed the post in February 2000 after the death of Chief Thomas Windham. Prior to his appointment, Mendoza was the executive deputy chief and was acting chief during Windham’s absence — a period of five months.
“To be chosen to follow Chief Windham without the labor of a nationwide search was an expression of confidence I’ve never forgotten,” Mendoza says.
A native of Fort Worth, Mendoza has been on the police force for 35 years. He began his career in 1972 as a police cadet and advanced through the ranks, serving as a patrol officer in various parts of the city. He was a crime analyst as a corporal, assembled a gang task force in an assignment as a supervisor, and commanded the SWAT section as a lieutenant.
After appointment to deputy chief in 1990, Mendoza served in every bureau of community policing. In 1998, he was designated executive deputy chief and assisted in the development of the Police Department budget, the administration of the Fort Worth Crime Control and Prevention District and acquisition of a number of grant programs.
While serving as acting chief in 1999, he received national attention for the decisive and sensitive manner in which he handled a mass shooting at Wedgwood Baptist Church.
“There’s a reason they’re called ‘Fort Worth’s Finest.’ Our men and women of the Fort Worth Police Department are the best in the business,” says Mayor Mike Moncrief. “Since 2000, Police Chief Ralph Mendoza has been the leader of our police force through what I believe to be some of the department’s most successful and, at times, difficult years.
“Fort Worth continues to be recognized as the ninth safest large city in the nation — this, despite a period of extraordinary growth. That doesn’t happen by accident,” the mayor continues. “It’s by design. Chief Mendoza has proven himself a courageous and visionary leader. He leaves a celebrated legacy of neighborhood and community policing with a special attention on improving public safety using innovative tools, including the Crime Control and Prevention District.”
City Manager Charles Boswell, who will retire in January, has worked with Mendoza for 30 years and credits him with a number of accomplishments, including the addition of more than 275 authorized crimefighters — from 1,204 in 2000 to 1,478 in 2007.
The chief also supported creation of Project Stay Alert, an e-prevention program for robbery, sexual assault, crimes against children and family violence. After the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, Mendoza reinstituted the Police Department’s Intel Section to deal with homeland security issues. During his tenure as chief, he’s furthered Fort Worth’s community policing with promotion of efforts like Minister’s Against Crime (MAC) and creation of the Clergy and Police Alliance (CAPA) as well as the city’s crime-free, multi-family housing program and Fort Worth After-School initiative.
Mendoza brought back black-and-white patrol cars and worked to add Tasers and AR-15s to the department’s weaponry.
He restored the department’s Gang Section and worked to implement a $19-million Computer Aided Dispatch System in 2004. He’s also responsible for a fully implemented Records Management System. He led the department to support the adoption of the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in 2005.
In 2006, he developed and led implementation of a Five-Point Plan to reduce violence, which included two new Comin’ Up sites and a zero tolerance approach to crime citywide.
During his tenure as chief, the city has witnessed reductions in Part I crimes, including the violent crime rate, despite Fort Worth’s unprecedented growth.
“Chief Mendoza will be missed by the entire Fort Worth family once he actually retires,” Boswell says. “He does leave some big shoes to fill. To that end, we will conduct a national search for his replacement. I know that the chief will leave in place a very experienced and capable command staff, and we expect to have internal candidates compete for this important position.”