Fort Worth Police Chief, Oversight Director Test Pepper Ball Rounds

Aim to assess safety and use of less-lethal force options for officers

Feb. 6, 2026 at 7:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia and Police Monitor Director Boncyle Sokunbi recently volunteered to be shot with pepper ball ammunition during a department demonstration. The goal was to better understand how the less-lethal tool works and how it could affect both officers and the public. Both experienced the impact and irritant effects firsthand to inform potential policy, training, and transparency if the department moves forward with adopting the pepper ball rounds.

Why it matters

As police departments seek alternatives to deadly force, the use of less-lethal tools like pepper ball rounds raises concerns about proper training, policy guidelines, and public awareness. This demonstration aims to proactively address those issues in Fort Worth.

The details

During the demonstration, Chief Garcia and Monitor Director Sokunbi each experienced being shot with the pepper ball rounds, which are designed to break on impact and temporarily disable a subject from up to 150 feet away. They wanted to understand the effects on the body and how officers might be impacted when giving orders. Sokunbi said her focus is on ensuring proper training, policy, and transparency if the department adopts the tool.

  • The demonstration was held in early February 2026 at the request of the Office of the Police Oversight Monitor.

The players

Eddie Garcia

The Fort Worth Police Chief who volunteered to be shot with pepper ball rounds to experience the effects firsthand.

Boncyle Sokunbi

The Fort Worth Police Monitor Director who also volunteered to be shot with pepper ball rounds to better understand how the tool works and could impact the public.

Pepper Ball

The company that manufactures the pepper ball ammunition, which is an irritant powder projectile designed to break on impact and temporarily disable a subject.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I could imagine officers giving orders and things of that nature, and then having the effects of the substance. You know, it definitely had an effect on me.”

— Eddie Garcia, Fort Worth Police Chief

“I allowed them to shoot me in my shoulder, and so I could feel the intensity of it and also how the inert or the Pavo chemical affects individuals.”

— Boncyle Sokunbi, Fort Worth Police Monitor Director

“What does training look like around it. What is the policy going to look like, and how informed is the public going to be?”

— Boncyle Sokunbi, Fort Worth Police Monitor Director

What’s next

The Fort Worth Police Department will need to develop clear policies, training protocols, and a public education campaign if they decide to adopt pepper ball rounds as a less-lethal force option for officers.

The takeaway

This demonstration highlights the proactive steps Fort Worth is taking to explore alternative force options that minimize harm, while also addressing key concerns around proper use, oversight, and transparency with the community.