Freeport council moves police personnel matter and attorney contract to executive session after public allegations

The Freeport City Council convened a special meeting June 11, 2025, and voted to move two agenda items into executive session at 6:40 p.m. to discuss personnel matters related to Police Chief Jennifer Howe and the employment contract with interim city attorney Olson and Olson, citing Texas Government Code §551.074.

The move followed public comment from resident Sam Reyna, who told the council that an independent investigator had deemed unsigned complaint letters from about 20 officers unusable and urged the council to conduct its own inquiry. "The city of Freeport contracted an independent investigator to investigate the hostile environment created by Chief Jennifer Howe within the department," Reyna said. "20 officers complained about Chief Howe's attitude and mismanagement at the police station." Reyna asked the council to subpoena officers and suggested termination of the chief if the council wished to restore unity.

Reyna also referenced earlier personnel actions and budget concerns. He said Chief Tyrone Morrow was previously terminated after three officers complained and asserted that "city manager Mr. Lance Petty complained to Chief Howe about the payout of overtime, 263,000 and the budget year had just started." Reyna said Councilman Pena had also complained about overtime pay.

After public comment, a council member moved to send agenda item 2(a) — a personnel matter — into executive session, citing state law that limits public discussion of personnel issues. Councilman Davis seconded the motion, which the council approved by voice vote. Council members then moved agenda item 2(b), the employment contract between the city and interim city attorney Olson and Olson, into executive session; that motion also was seconded and approved. Mayor Cain closed the regular meeting and read the executive session notice, stating the items would be discussed "pursuant to section 551.074 to deliberate the employment evaluation, discipline or dismissal of" the city manager and to discuss the city attorney contract.

No substantive deliberations or decisions on the personnel matters were reported in open session. The council recessed into executive session at 6:40 p.m.; the public record in the minutes shows only that the council moved the items into closed session under Texas Government Code §551.074. Any actions resulting from the executive session were not announced in open session during the portion of the meeting covered by the transcript.

Background: Reyna asked the council to use subpoena power he cited from the city charter, saying, "Article 3, section 313 of the charter states ... the city council shall have the power to inquire into the conduct of any office, department, agency, officer, or employee of the city and to make investigations ... and for that purpose, may subpoena witnesses." The transcript identifies the charter citation and the state statute cited by the mayor when announcing the executive session notice; the transcript does not record any council vote on subpoenas or any follow-up assignment before the meeting moved to closed session.