The Freeport City Council on June 2 delayed formal action on an ongoing investigation into Police Chief Jennifer Howell, directing staff to provide the investigator's report to council members and to the chief before any executive-session discussion.

Council members said they could not responsibly discuss or decide the chief's employment status without having the final report in hand and time to review it. The council additionally voted to meet in executive session later the same night after confirming the report would be distributed to council and the chief beforehand.

The move came after repeated public and council criticism about transparency and the timing of the report. Councilman Davis pushed for immediate delivery, saying, "I want the report now, mayor," and pressing staff to stop what he described as withholding the document. Several council members said the final report was received by legal staff over the weekend and that copies would be distributed after the chief received her copy.

Mayor (title provided in meeting records) convened discussion of agenda item 3J, described in the agenda as "police chief investigation status," and multiple council members raised concerns that the public and council had been left without key information for weeks. Councilman Pena and others framed the request as procedural: they wanted time to review the document before executive-session deliberations and any personnel decision.

Council members also aired broader concerns about morale and staffing in the police department. One council member said mishandling of personnel matters "can lead to another mass exodus" among officers; another urged due process and fairness "for every employee, the chief included." The council ultimately voted to proceed into executive session after confirming arrangements to receive the report.

The executive-session notice that followed listed consultations with the city attorney (Texas Gov't Code sec. 551.071) and personnel deliberations regarding the police chief (sec. 551.074). The council said copies of the report would be distributed to council and the chief before any closed-session discussion.

The item concluded with a 3-2 vote to enter executive session to discuss the chief's status; council members said the report would be provided and that a special meeting could be scheduled if necessary to allow fuller public transparency after the closed discussion.