Windcrest council terminates police chief after weeks of public criticism; lieutenant named interim chief
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Summary
After an executive session, Windcrest City Council voted to terminate Police Chief Jimmy Cole effective immediately and unanimously appointed Lieutenant David Ellis as interim chief. The decision followed weeks of public comment and an employee-survey release that residents and officers said showed low morale and alleged misconduct.
After an executive session on Dec. 16, 2024, the Windcrest City Council voted to terminate the employment of Police Chief Jimmy Cole effective immediately and then appointed Lieutenant David Ellis as interim chief.
The action followed an extended public-comment period in which multiple residents and current and former police employees raised concerns about Chief Cole's leadership, referenced an employee survey with comments describing the workplace as "toxic," and asked the council to take corrective action. Among remarks cited during public comment, a resident quoted the survey: "No officer trusts Chief Cole, not 1." Another speaker urged the council to choose "ethical leadership based on honesty, integrity, and respect for others."
Council read the motions on the record after returning from executive session. A councilmember moved to terminate the chief; the motion was seconded and approved. Council then moved and seconded to appoint Lieutenant David Ellis as interim chief; the appointment carried unanimously.
Lieutenant David Ellis had presented the department's routine monthly report earlier in the meeting, noting event-related crowd-control successes and no additions to the written report. The council did not provide detailed personnel findings on the public record during the meeting; the agenda cited consultation under Texas Government Code provisions related to deliberations about personnel and legal consultation.
The termination and interim appointment are the most recent steps in a months‑long dispute the council and City staff have addressed through ethics hearings and public meetings. Several speakers asked the council to clarify the scope and cost of a private investigation cited by residents, and multiple public speakers asked for greater transparency about the personnel and ethics processes that led to the council's action.
Next steps: council did not announce a timeline for a permanent chief search at the Dec. 16 meeting beyond the interim appointment; personnel matters referenced Texas Government Code protections and the city charter during discussion.
