HEARNE, Texas—The Hearne police chief has been suspended without pay for two weeks after a more than year-long investigation by the Texas Rangers.
Chief Thomas Williams received that suspension Monday night from the city council after they reviewed the report that accused the chief of allowing sexual harassment to go on inside the Hearne Police Department.
Mayor Ruben Gomez said the city is making a statement, and that kind of behavior will not be tolerated.
“It was a very tough decision,” said Gomez. “I'm real proud to say that we took action,” he added.
The Hearne City Council received the report from the Texas Rangers on Friday outlining a culture of sexual harassment within the police department.
Chief Williams was accused of not doing enough to stop alleged sexual harassment after an officer said she was reportedly harassed multiple times by former sergeant Stephen Yohner who is no longer with the department.
Another employee with the department also came forward with similar allegations against Yohner, and that complaint was never reported.
Mayor Gomez said the police department must have higher standards, and that starts with the chief.
“He knows this will not be tolerated in the future,” said Gomez.
“Because you’re the chief, it’s your responsibility to know everything that goes on with that department,” he added
Also in the report, an allegation that Chief Williams tampered with evidence after he and Yohner supposedly flushed drugs down a toilet.
However, the district attorney took the charge to a grand jury who decided not to indict Williams.
City council also decided as part of the discipline that Chief Williams will not receive a pay raise next year and is required to attend extensive management training.
“He accepted the responsibility. He is responsible for his department. He's accepted that and he's looking forward to the challenge of straightening up the concerns that were brought up in this report,” said Gomez.
Three other employees of the department, who are not police officers, will also be disciplined by the City Manager, John Naron.
Naron said the city is already working on changing the culture within the department. All of the city employees, including the police department, recently received an extensive sexual harassment training.
Gomez said they haven’t set a date yet for Chief Williams’ suspension. They’re working to find a qualified person to fill-in during those two weeks.