Residents accuse police leadership of harassment; questions raised about private investigator and ethics process
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Summary
Residents and volunteers told the council the city contracted a private investigator to probe volunteers and cited an employee survey alleging harassment and retaliation. Speakers asked the council to clarify who authorized the investigator, who pays for it, and whether the ethics process is fair.
Multiple Windcrest residents used the city's "citizens to be heard" period on Dec. 16 to press the council on allegations about police leadership and the scope of an outside investigation. Speakers asked who authorized hiring a private investigator (named in public comment as Jesse Prado), who is paying for the work, and whether the city attorney or staff had the authority to extend the investigator's scope beyond an internal personnel inquiry.
A city official read a prepared statement that acknowledged the city hired an outside investigator for a "very limited investigation" but said the investigator began pursuing background history that exceeded the original assignment; the statement emphasized the investigation focused on internal matters and did not target residents. Residents demanded a written apology to local volunteer organizations and asked the Ethics Commission or a citizen review board to administer ethics complaints rather than relying solely on the city attorney.
Speakers cited an employee-survey summary released earlier, describing comments that included "bullying," "harassment," "intimidation" and "retaliation." One public speaker urged the council to ensure "fair, just representation" in complaints processes and to consider appointing the Ethics Commission as the administrator of complaints. Another resident said a private investigator connected to other high-profile work had previously billed other municipalities at high hourly rates and asked whether a public discussion occurred before hiring.
City leadership said matters related to personnel and legal consultation required executive-session discussion under Texas Government Code; after executive session, the council took personnel action on the police chief. The council also noted ethics-commission hearings scheduled for January.
