New Boston Police Chief Tony King set off a firestorm when he fired Lt. Johnny Millwood in early March. There was no reason given and Millwood's attorney said the termination was illegal under state law.
On March 20, the New Boston City Council voted unanimously to reinstate Millwood and put him on administrative leave until an investigation could be conducted by the Texas Rangers.
But King, who is currently on medical leave, apparently ignored the council's wishes.
This week the council voted again, this time to compel King to file the paperwork with the Texas Law Enforcement commission reinstating Millwood.
The whole incident has brought to light questions regarding King's conduct and performance of his duties as police chief.
The council is looking into that as well, but Council Member Joe Dike said at Tuesday's meeting that City Secretary Darla Faulkner has refused to turn over King's personnel file.
New Boston's city attorney pointed out that the state attorney general has already issued an opinion stating a city's governing board has the right to access employee personnel files.
At Tuesday's meeting, Faulkner wanted to know why Dike wanted to see the file. He basically told her his reasons were none of her business.
And they aren't.
Dike had no problem obtaining King's personal file from Mount Pleasant and DeKalb police departments, records that contain allegations of excessive force.
But getting the same records from his own city hall? Dike might as well have been butting his head into a brick wall.
This is public information, folks. The information needs to be turned over posthaste. There is nothing to talk about.
Sometime during the meeting, Faulkner also told Dike that some of the information in King's personnel files was kept in the police department.
This too sounds like bad policy and procedure that needs review. Personnel files are not usually kept with the police department, but wherever they are kept, individual files should be kept together and intact.
The Texas Rangers' investigation of the city's police department came at the request of the city council and the Bowie County district attorney and is currently under way. Allegations against King include racially discriminatory hiring practices, violating Texas law by firing Lt. Johnny Millwood without explanation, making arrests without probable cause and making questionable purchases with city funds absent the approval of the City Council.
Since the Rangers' investigation came to light, the whole thing has turned into something of a battle royal in New Boston, with King's supporters in city government and the public lining up against those who question the chief's suitability for his position.
And that's no good for anyone.
The New Boston City Council clearly has the oversight of the police department and the chief. It's their job as the elected representatives of the people. Council members also have the right to inspect personnel files and it's not up to the city secretary to act as gatekeeper on her own terms. She works for the city, she does not run the city nor is she tasked with making policy.
It's time for the mayor and council to get a handle on all of this, from the police department to City Hall. That's what they were elected to do.