Former police officer fosters peace, inclusivity at Historic Southside library
As a Dallas police officer for close to 30 years, Blake Farrell learned how to balance his compassionate outlook on life with the need for clearly outlined rule enforcement.
Most importantly, he said, he mastered patience.
Serving as a patrol officer, firearms instructor and testing coordinator for the Dallas Police Department taught Farrell to navigate conflict while treating people with patience and respect — “the baseline for any public service job,” he said. Today, he’s known by friends and colleagues for his unbreakably calm yet friendly demeanor.
“You can do or say anything you want to me. You can’t breach my peace because my peace is my peace,” Farrell, 62, said.
That mindset has served him well on his latest venture since retiring from policing: managing the Fort Worth Public Library’s Ella Mae Shamblee branch.
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52 Faces of Community is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting local unsung heroes. It is sponsored by Central Market, H-E-B and JPS Health Network.
At the end of the year, these rarely recognized heroes will gather for a luncheon where the Report will announce one honoree to represent Tarrant County at the Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C.
Farrell’s service to the library earned him recognition in 52 Faces of Community, the Fort Worth Report’s weekly series spotlighting unsung heroes in Tarrant County.
Nestled at the intersection of East Rosedale Street and Interstate 35, the Shamblee library branch serves as an anchor to the Historic Southside, Farrell said.
In a neighborhood marked by deficits — including the lack of a grocery store, deteriorating streets and high poverty and homeless rates — the library’s management has struggled to combat negative public perception associated with the area and maintain a calm and welcoming environment.
When Michele Gorman interviewed Farrell for a management position at another library branch in 2023, she immediately knew she found the right candidate to make a much-needed difference at Shamblee, she said.
As assistant director of public service for the Fort Worth library system, Gorman recognized Farrell’s “you cannot break my peace” mantra would empower him to bring calm and focus to the Shamblee branch.
“He is all about the community that he serves, but he knows how to draw the line and keep people safe. It is vitally important to him.”
Michele Gorman, nominator
One of few free and public resources in the Historic Southside, Shamblee serves a high number of people experiencing homelessness.
On any given night, Farrell said, about half a dozen people will sleep outside the library, waiting for its doors to open in the morning. When Farrell comes to unlock the entrance, he greets them warmly, holding the door open and asking how he can help.
Although physical or verbal altercations have been common at the branch, Farrell said he works to keep situations from escalating. Like all library staff, the Shamblee team receives deescalation training.
The branch’s rules of behavior, prominently displayed in its foyer, have been essential in maintaining order. All are welcome at the library, Farrell said, but they must practice mutual respect and follow the rules.
“Your grandmother had rules in her house. You wouldn’t break those rules,” he said. “This is our house. This is the neighborhood’s house … if you act up, we gotta do something about it.”
But just like grandma’s house, Shamblee offers a variety of fun, informative activities and programming, from watercolor painting to classes for non-English speakers to learn the language. Since assuming the branch manager position, Farrell has worked intentionally to increase programming opportunities and show families that Shamblee is safe and welcoming to all.
Nearly two years into his leadership, Shamblee has recorded an increase in patronage and program attendance and an increasingly inclusive culture, although there are “still a lot of challenges,” Gorman noted.
“I’m not going to tell you that Blake is the answer to all the problems,” she said. “I think what we have is a guy who is trying his hardest, and a team that is trying its hardest.”
In fiscal year 2024 — from October 2023 when Farrell took the job to September 2024 — Shamblee saw a 22% increase in visits over the same time frame the previous year, according to library data provided to the Report. The number of programs offered increased by 114%, and program attendance jumped by 147%.
So far into fiscal year 2025, library staff project the increases to continue trending. From October 2024 to August, the branch recorded a little more than 100,000 visits.
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Reflecting on his colleagues’ praise of his management, Farrell commended his team at Shamblee. As a manager, he focuses on empowering staff to think creatively and capitalize on their unique strengths and skills, and sharing resources and information transparently.
“I really feel like I’m not leading it, that I am just part of the team,” Farrell said. “I’m just the one that gets to go to most of the meetings.”
Heading into his third year as a branch manager, Farrell’s focus remains clear. Shamblee is for everyone.
When someone enters his library, it doesn’t matter what their housing or employment status is. Farrell wants to make their day “just a little bit better.”
“Maybe they’ll remember, ‘Hey, Shamblee was nice to us. Maybe we should go back,’” Farrell said. And when they do, he’ll be waiting with a smile to hold the door open.
Cecilia Lenzen is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org.
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