The city of Dallas is launching a nationwide search for the next Dallas Police Department (DPD) Chief of Police and has retained a firm to help oversee the process.

The new chief will replace former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia who resigned in September. He accepted a role in Austin as assistant city manager under Dallas' former city manager, T.C. Broadnax.

Interim Dallas Police Chief Michael T. Igo was appointed to the position in October following Garcia’s retirement.

Leading the search efforts is Public Service Search and Consulting (PSSC), a search firm based in California that specializes in the area of public safety. They conducted Dallas' two previous police chief searches.

“PSSC is an expert in robust recruiting for top talent, and we expect a diverse list of highly qualified candidates for this,” says Chief Dominique Artis, Chief of Public Safety, in a statement. “Public Safety remains a top priority for Dallas, and we are confident that we will identify the right candidate to support our continued goal of being one the safest large cities in the U.S.”

City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, who was appointed to permanent city manager in January, said in a statement that she hopes to fill the role by spring.

“As Dallas evolves into a globally recognized city that sets the standard for excellence, it is imperative to have a visionary leader guiding DPD into its next chapter," Tolbert said. "Our next chief must have experience building trust and legitimacy, promoting innovation, fostering talent, and implementing meaningful strategies to reduce crime.”

Tolbert said the city will also launch a search for a new Dallas Fire-Rescue search by mid-February.