"Second, when one looks back at any negatives that occurred in the McKinney Police Departments record of twelve years, one can point directly at the individual who is the current Assistant Chief http://www.mckinneytexas.org/directory.aspx?EID=31 that marred the reputation of the department. Hopefully, he will be out of here with his reputation for his Macho ways, his big mouth in the local papers determining the guilt of citizens before they were actually charged by the D.A.'s office, lack of respect for McKinney, Texas' citizens in general, bending the "letter of the law" to his benefit."

It bears repeating times 1000000.

There is now a facebook page serving as an online petition to our City Council to terminate Gray as City Manager. Please support us: https://www.facebook.com/pages/McKinney-Says-No-to-Jason-Gray/361876200565454

I see Three Positives from all of this. Hopefully in the next major election, the four council members who supported Gray will be replaced with "Sincere and Honest Citizen Servers." Second, when one looks back at any negatives that occurred in the McKinney Police Departments record of twelve years, one can point directly at the individual who is the current Assistant Chief http://www.mckinneytexas.org/directory.aspx?EID=31 that marred the reputation of the department. Hopefully, he will be out of here with his reputation for his Macho ways, his big mouth in the local papers determining the guilt of citizens before they were actually charged by the D.A.'s office, lack of respect for McKinney, Texas' citizens in general, bending the "letter of the law" to his benefit. He was part of the orginial "white power crew" out of Dallas that followed Kowalski here twelve years ago. The third greatest benefit to all of this, is that Kowalski will retire a very wealthy man with his departing package from the City of McKinney to which the resulting burden of taxes are paid for by you and me. Maybe the City of McKinney will deduct that cost from Mr. Gray's bi-monthly pay check.

City of McKinney needs to do some homwork, IS Joe Williams even legally qualified to sit as Police Chief, by that he has not been an active LEO for at least 18 months, is his TCLEOSE certificate valid? Did Gray think to check on that. Why did Gray do a Youtube announcement, talk about unprofessional, what happened to holding a press conference, building a comunications plan, was Coco from the comm office even involved? I think McKinney struck out when the gave the job to Gray. Continuity is important in any organization as is an orderly transition of power.Wake up McKinney, dump this rookie.

Just sent this email to Mayor, Council and City Manager:

Dear Mayor, Council Members and City Manager,

As a resident, a business owner, a former city employee, a former Chamber director, a graduate of Leadership McKinney, a former Director of the Board of TSAB, and a graduate of Citizen's Police Academy - i take serious issue with the reassingment / firing and handling of Chief Kowalski.

Not sure what is happening at City Hall, but here's my take:

1. Mr. Gray, this smacks of good-old-boy cronyism.

2. How can some random guy from small-town Celina function as Police Chief of McKinney? even in the interim?

3. Chief Kowalski gets my my support - always has, always will.

4. How do you explain the underhanded way this was handled? Kowalski deserves much better after having served with distinction for so many years. To just spring this on council and put it on YouTube?

I will be getting involved in this issue.

Thank you for your time,
laura kayata

Ray Ricchi Comments from Facebook:

I would like to address recent events at McKinney City Hall on October 5th 2012. The purpose of this message is to provide the citizens with my views as an individual City Council member; I am not speaking for the City Council. I am fully aware of the City of McKinney’s charter language giving the City Manager sole authority on personnel matters and personnel decisions and this message is intended to be consistent with the City of McKinney Charter.

The City Council was presented on October 8th with the City Manager’s reasons for the action he alone took on October 5th with Chief of Police Kowalski. This was the first time any of this information was ever communicated to me in any way. After careful consideration, it is my opinion the information presented would not warrant the reassignment of Chief Kowalski.

I understand the City Manager’s role is to evaluate employees, and while I respect that role, our job as Council Members is to evaluate the City Manager’s performance, including his exercise of judgment in the performance of his duties. I intend to completely evaluate the City Manager’s job performance and will do so with an open mind. I do not believe the information presented to me justifies the actions taken by City Manager Gray.

Additionally, I feel that the manner in which Mr. Gray executed his decision was extremely disrespectful, unprofessional, and inconsistent with that which our citizen’s demand and city personnel deserve.

I'm with you! I've been a resident of McKinney since 1998 and been proud to say so up to now. Our City Council and Mayor should consider themselves on notice. I ask my fellow citizens to stand up and be counted. This will be a costly mistake our city can't afford. While Mr. Williams may be a fine man he is not qualified to serve as chief of police for a city the size of McKinney. I'm sure there is more to the story but our city manager; Jason Gray, has gone too far. I had a bad feeling when he was hired and this confirms it; he is not what McKinney needs! Let our city council hear from you!! Time to flood the council mail box: citycouncil@mckinneytexas.org

Story Spreading Across Texas: Even with the City of McKinney removing this youtube from the city site, this story is spreading like wild fire across the State of Texas. One of the top law enforcement web sites now has this termination showcased as its lead story (just click the three line link below): http://www.policemag.com/channel/patrol/news/2012/10/08/texas-police-chief-fired-via-youtube-video.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+POLICE-ALL+28POLICE+Magazine%29#.UHSQXL.zwxmw.email. What is interesting to read is the links off this web posting that extents to the Dallas papers. Additionally note the comments made on this web posting by law enforcement personnel, as well as concerned citizens across Texas. It is time for our current Mayor and those we voted in to be our city council to no longer sit on their hands on this matter. Perhaps it will be not too late to terminate our City Manager and reinstate Chief Kowlaski before this will become a national disgrace for McKinney, Texas.

As I predicted. The City of McKinney has deleted the notorious "Firing" video.

I have reposted it at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry5OKfA5moI&lc=CxUEJssZHh4q9HiK4z9oPzuP_6aYLaPvyIR4xpjRv68&lch=email&feature=em-comment_received

Please share the link.

Please Don't Let This Die: The short memory of the public in our community is well known. Politicians are well known to let such happenings as this to disappear from public view within a short time. Such huge blips in the running of city such as McKinney, many times interfers with the "self-interests" of politicians that serve in public office. The citizens of McKinney need to insure that this does not die in addressing the actions of our City Manager in the reasons for the termination of our well respected Police Chief, Doug Kowalski of twelve years of outstanding service to our city. Following is the e-mail link which represents the contact for each and every member of the city council of McKinney including our Mayor: citycouncil@mckinneytexas.org. Every member of our great city need to sit down and take ten minutes to address an e-mail to this address demanding a full investigation of this council of this tasteless and possibly self-interest firing of Chief Kowalski by our current City Manager. It will be the only way this will demonstrate to all that the citizens of McKinney, Texas are not a community of Apathy when it comes to its citizens as well as its city employees.

Where is the Press? Where are the Mayor and Council?

A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.
—James Madison

Any person or branch of government that goes unchecked or is not held accountable subjects itself to corruption or rule by the tyranny of one or by the tyranny of a few.

It is easy for the Mayor and Council to absolve themselves of any responsiblity regarding the recent dismissal of Chief Doug Kowalski by saying that the responsiblity for hiring and firing is in the purview of teh city manager. But shouldn't the Mayor and Council require the City Manager to handle these dismissals in a professional, dignified and respectful manner? Shouldn't the Mayor and Council require accountability of the City Manager to them? Or do they simply choose to cower in a corner, blissful and hoping this will all blow away soon.

McKinney is one of the best cities in the country. Do we want our city to digress to one whose reputation is coupled with words like cronynism and political patronage? What does this say about our ethics? Our moral character? Not only does this unchecked accountability impact the reputation of Mr. Gray and Mr. Williams; it directly reflects upon the elected leadership of Mayor and Council. What does this say about the ethics and fairness in leading our city?

Why would the city council not want to hire the best qualified staff. By your silence you are supporting cronyism in its purest form; you have allowed a different, and much lower and an unethical standard for hiring than has previously existed. The existing staff had to compete against a nationally competent field of applicants. It is clear, by any rational person's standard, that Mr. Williams was not qualified for the position of Assistant City Manager. He most certainly is not qualified to be the Chief of Police. He employment was elminated in Celina due to "budgetary" reasons. That department had 12 employees. The McKinney department has two or three hundred employees. The ONLY logical explanation for not advertising these positions that Mr. Williams has held, is that he would not be able to successfully compete against a qualified applicant pool. Mr. Williams may be a fine individual (or not), but I can't imagine how embarrassing it must be going to work every day knowing that no one respects him because he has not earned his positions. And shame on Mr. Gray, a professional, educated adminstrator, for taking this approach in running a mutil million dollar public company. The only reasaon an manager practices cronyism is that they themselves may not be qualified for the postion and need cover. Is that the case here?

Mr. Gray has a history of practicing cronynism - Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy.

Cronyism exists when the appointer and the beneficiary are in social contact; often, the appointer is inadequate to hold his or her own job or position of authority, and for this reason the appointer appoints individuals who will not try to weaken him or her, or express views contrary to those of the appointer. Politically, "cronyism" is derogatorily used.

Where is the accountability. We are McKinney - We deserve better.

Jason Gray is spineless and he's using Joe Williams as his puppet! What a disgrace to the men and women of the McKinney Police Department who have to work for such a coward (Jason Gray) when they are accustomed to working for a highly respected Chief Kowalski. It's evident that Mr. Gray is actually the new police chief--he's just allowing Joe Williams to carry the title. Where's the accountability..?? Is City Council and Mayor Loughmiller going to allow this man to disprespect a pulic servant who has devoted his entire adult life to protecting others? Anyone who has ever come in contact with Chief Kowalski knows he is a man of integrity and always put the needs of his men and women before politics. He just didn't play along with Mr. Gray's game and has now been fired for standing firm in his beliefs. This is outrageous.

Jason Gray is lying.Lying to the public, lying to city leaders. Gray knew Kowalski was onto him. He knew it was a matter of time before Kowalski got to the bottom of Grays's agenda. He knew Kowalski was getting close so he made a decision without consulting anyone making sure Kowalski wouldn't have a chance to alert city council. Gray summarily fired Kowalski stripping him of everything in his possession then threatened him with decimation of any future if he as much as spoke to any city leader, council members included.

No one knows why wild horses stampede and they ain't talking. But it's time city leaders did. Why would esteemed McKinney city council members sanction the hiring of a man such as hire Jason D. Gray for city manager? It is conceivable they hired Gray (after the firing of Frank Ragan) because it's no secret nationwide among astute city managers that the longevity for a City Manager in McKinney lasts less time than the period of pre-pubescent and early adolescence. Nationwide, even those city managers reportedly scanning job boards, relevant social media and on-line publications for city manager positions arel loathe to consider applying to the City of McKinney. Therein may well be the answer as to why our esteemed city leaders settled on Jason D. Gray. One can only hope their greatest sin was failing to perform due diligence. Such can be forgiven. However, it will not be so easy to forgive it evidence reflects city leaders who indeed performed a background check on Jason D. Gray, discovering evidence of a man whose ethics and integrity are glaringly lacking. If city leaders performed due diligence as is expected by the taxpayers who elected them and entrusting our city to a man who long owed a significant and indisputable debt-one he simply refused to pay, such is cause for investigation because If public record is to be believed, the current city manager, Jason D. Gray was a deadbeat. Long before sauntering into the city of McKinney, Jason D. Gray chose to stiff a nationally recognized, respected lender. Not for just a brief period did McKinney's current city manager ignore a debt clearly owed, Jason Gray stiffed the lender for years on end. Beyond simply entrusting the city's future to a deadbeat, city leaders have dealt McKinney a devastating blow in the search for a qualified, ethical candidate in the near future. It is embarrassing enough the Jason D. Gray humiliated the city last Friday with a narcissistically driven youtube video, one reflective of cloying ambition, a cinematic feat apparently designed to establish himself as a dictator in the City of McKinney's dictator, he made it clear he is accountable to no one--even the city leaders who hired him.. At best, such is evidence of a rookie at the helm of the "second best place to live in America." At worse, Gray's self-orchestrated grab for national recognition in the bizarre youtube video evidences a man narcissistic enough to believe he is untouchable. Apparently Gray has suffered the illusion for a long time. It wasn't newly discovered evidence , the suggestion that Jason D. Gray is not only media hungry, until recently, he was a deadbeat. According to reports, Gray would still be a deadbeat were it not for the same city leaders who allegedly bailed him out. It appears Jason D. Gray had no qualms about ignoring a significant debt until February 2012 when a writ of execution summoned a visit from a Collin County Constable in reference to debt owed since June 2001.

October 5, 2012 was a sad day for the citizens of McKinney and the McKinney Police Department. Not only should we be outraged by the complete mistreatment of our police chief, we should be disgusted by our City Manager, Jason Gray. Not only is he a coward (only a coward would be so classless as to post a You Tube video), but his complete lack of respect for a man who has devoted 35+ years of his life to public service and to protecting others, is a disgrace to this city. Not only did Mr. Gray wrongfully fire Chief Kowalski, he made a mockery out of Mayor Loughmiller and our elected city council. Now the question becomes this: Will we as citizens allow this type of corruption to continue? Will the Mayor and City Council allow Mr. Gray to do as he pleases or will it just be "swept under the rug"? Mr. Gray needs to be reminded that he works for us-the citizens-and his political "clout" and outright lies will not be tolerated. I find it despicable that the reason he gave for firing Chief Kowalski was due to "difference of philosophical views!" If the citizens and city council cannot see past this LIE and hold Mr. Gray accountable for his actions, then we should be ashamed of ourselves. Keeping silent is sending the message that we condone this type of behavior. What type of City Manager fires the police chief and appoints a new one all in the same day..?? No search committee..?? No job postings..?? Surely the citizens of McKinney are smarter than this and can see how corrupt this man is. My hope is that Mayor Loughmiller and City Council care enough to do the right thing--despite political gains or loss--and reveal the deceit, corruption and cowardness of Mr. Gray and remove him from his position. If that doesn't happen, then we might as well start addressing Mr. Gray as Mayor Gray. Even though Chief Kowalski was overwhelmingly popular amongst his department and the citizens, I understand he doesn't have 100 % approval from every citizen. No one would in his position. But we have to see past personal views, and realize that this man was stripped of his uniform, dignity and pride for simply doing the right thing. He is too humble of a man to ever highlight all the successes and accomplishments that this city enjoys, but rather credits the men and women who so selflessly protect our citizens and families. Chief Kowalski has helped to catapult our city to the #2 Best City to Live In by Money Magazine and this is how he is repaid. Tragedy. Mayor Loughmiller, are you going to allow Mr. Gray to make an even bigger fool out of you than he already has or do you have the gumption to do the right thing and reinstate Chief Kowalski? God Bless Our City.

continued below

Even then, Jason Gray refused to pay. Credible sources report his claiming "he just didn't have the money." Apparently that was his also his excuse for failing to move to the city that he was hired to manage. Reportedly too, city leaders ultimately amended the contract he signed, allowing him more time to get his finances in order. So while it is forgivable that city leaders may have inadvertently dropped the ball, hiring a known credit risk--a red flag to any respectable entity, it might even be forgivable, allowing him more time to sell his house and move to McKinney. But to give Jason D. Gray a "raise" or "help with moving expenses" in the near identical dollar amount of the debt he owed is suspect. But the final straw was Jason Gray's single-handed decision to oust the highly respected, beloved Chief of Police, Doug Kowalski and surreptitiously replacing him with his closest crony, Joe Williams in the hope of duping both taxpayers and city leaders into believing it was for the good of the city. To trust Jason D. Gray, a man who documents evidences a history of failing to honor a sizeable financial obligation is not a man worthy of managing the "second best place to live in America."

What happened to treating others with dignity and respect? While Mr.Gray has the right to make changes as he desires, this move would seem to smack of a city manager drunk on unchecked power. He has placed his council in a most interesting position. But, he has also put our city on notice that he knows best what the citizens need. He clearly stated that Mr.Williams brings to the table a more appropriate sense of "leadership and culture well aligned with the community." Are not issues of city "culture" and "leadership" in perhaps the most important city department at least worthy of a pass by to city council? Perhaps I am wrong, but in a representative form of government, I would think our council might also have a sense, and dare I say greater sense of the wants and needs of the community. Mr.Grays actions would say otherwise and only left the mayor and others out in the cold looking like less than informed leaders. But this council that hired Mr.Gray, as a last choice when a national search could not find any qualified, or perhaps more correctly, interested candidates, would not want to be seen as turning over yet another McKinney city manager. Political correctness or survival may be taking precedence over good governance. What I think is really the case here is that this incident simply brings to light the great possibility that the city manager is really nothing more than a bully who gets his way because nobody is willing to stand up to him. In this case, he has bullied the chief of police, the police department (how classy to inform the department that your chief has been fired and replaced through a YouTube video!) and his bosses on the council. Side bar: Money Magazine, please note this caring, personable style of management for next year. Surely this is the kind of management style the 1st place city would envy! In any event, I am sure Mr.Williams will gladly accept a reduction in pay from assistant city manager to police chief. Might be nice for our police chief to live in town or at least close proximity. I am sure the council will make sure this is the case as well.... One would hope so at least. But given Mr.Grays rumored issues with his own finances, even leading to county constables attempting to serve him papers at city hall, and conveniently dodging the constables for failure to pay on credit card debt, it might not be surprising to see him feel Mr.Williams needs no reduction in pay commensurate with his new duties or that it matters not where he lives. After all, it is rumored that Mr.Gray just happened to get a mid year pay increase(no other employees did) that strangely, covered the bad debt he was carrying. The bad debt and associated records were on the county website, that is fact. In fairness to Mr.Gray, (a word he knows not the definition of) the serving of papers by the constables was reported to have occurred by those who witnessed the visits of the constables. But for fear of retaliation, have chosen to not come forward
publicly. Chief Kowalski is a good man. He deserved better from Mr.Gray. The city of McKinney desperately deserves better then Mr.Gray. Chief Kowalski will have no trouble going forward and this event in no way reflects poorly upon him. It only magnifies and amplifies what has been the low din of concern for a city manager run amuck, into a loud roar. And that roar is squarely projected at the ears of the council. It will be interesting to see if they are listening.

I can not believe the City Council could possibly allow this to happen. Good gosh, you'd think we are back to a town of 1,000 people with one person running the show. There should have been a search process, interview boards and council approval to hire a Chief. I wouldn't know Gray if he sat down beside me but McKinney certainly deserves better leadership than this. I watched the YouTube video of the "City Managers Announcment" and thought that to be one of the most unprofessional acts I've seen from any City leader.

If anyone has any question in their mind or thinks this is not cronyism at its finest ask yourself; "Why is Williams following Gray from City to City?" Or better yet, "why is Gray hiring Williams wherever he goes". It's unethical and absolutely absurd for this to be going on in this day and age. Gray says: “Mr. Williams has the experience and skill set to bring our city services to an even higher level". Williams was the Chief of Police in a City with a population of 4 or 5 thousand and Gray somehow thinks that qualifies him to run the McKinney Police Department. Folks, I'm telling you, Williams might be a fine man, but this is not the way it's done in any modern, professional City.

The Mayor and City Council can now officially hang the McKinney City Limit sign in the Hall of Shame.

Cronyism is alive and well with Mr. Gray. He has a history of hiring friends who are unqualified for high level positions. He does not advertise these positons because he knows his friends would never make it to the interivew stage. In private business, one can hire whomever he wishes on whatever basis he wishes. But these are taxpayer dollars and we don't need to regress to the days of political patronage and cronynism. Mr. Gray fired an assistance city manager to make way for Jim Williams when he first came to McKinney. Wonder what this says about Mr. Grays personality. Is he that insecure in that he has to appioint his "enforcer." Wonder how Mr. Williams feels knowing that he does not have and will NEVER have the respect of the people he supervises. Respect and trust must be earned. Wonder what polices and codes of ethics were violated in these terminations and hiring.

Mr. Gray, McKinney is a larger more sophisticated city; it is not your kingdom. You have a responsibility to be good stewards of the taxpayer money.

It is a sad day when there is no accountability of Mr. Gray by the Mayor and Council. Where are the checks and balances.

McKinney has become known as the #2 city in the country in spite of Mr. Gray and Mr. Williams. It's too bad that these individuals will always know that they are not respected and that Mr. Williams will never have the respect of his employees and in fact, it is the big joke.

"Response to 'No Comment''...... If this "ousting" was handled properly, it would not have been by u-tube, but in a more professional matter by the city of McKinney. If there was to be more information, it would have been rendered to begin with. For a city that just made the number two slot by Money Mag, this handling of a fine Police Chief in a purposeful firing without explanation places a stain on the profile of our city. Food for thought, perhaps our prior chief found our manager guilty of "taking cookies from the city jar" and was terminated before moving forward with a full-pledged investigation. Stranger things have happened in politics, up to and including the removal of a President of the United States from office for illegal activities. I am additionally disappointed with our our Mayor's response in his comment to wit, "That is why we have a city manager." One fact is for sure, this termination will cost the taxpayers of McKinney, millions of dollars to be paid to Mr. Kowalski. Chief Kowalski was mistreated in his prior position with the City of Dallas and walked away with a settlement in excess of a million dollars before being hired by the City of McKinney.

Hmm

Before making comments about City Manager Gray's reassignment of the Chief of Police, let's wait for more information. However, it does seem strange to not appoint a Search Committee to fill the vacancy of an important position. My interactions with Chief Kowalski have always been positive and I have admired his professionalism. We may never learn the whole story--and perhaps the story is one we don't need to know.

Well, I saw this coming! Oh, not because Chief Kowalski was not doing a good job (he was), as that is never the issue with Gray. But this has been coming since Gray brought his unqualified buddy (Williams) into the city offices. I knew then, Gray had brought Williams in for just that reason.

Why do I say unqualified? Well, to me, I guess that with all the talent and experience pool of well qualified people within and outside of McKinney, one would have thought Gray would have tried to get someone who actually HAD some city manager experience. But when you're doing friends favors, I guess looking for the most qualified isn't as important.

Some questions come to my mind though. Gray just "assigned" Williams as the new Chief of Police? No search committee? No interview process with a board? No posting for the position? Maybe that was all done, I can't say. But in the video broadcast I saw of Gray's announcement (heck of a way to find out!), it didn't say Williams was the "interim" Chief of Police. But maybe he meant to include that. Bet not though.

Although I liked the area and have friends there, I recently moved from McKinney. I guess I left just in time though. Soon, Gray will decide, on his own, to rename McKinney, "Graytown". I guess when you're the unchallenged and unchained boss, you can pretty well do as you please.

PS. Chief Kowalski - Best wishes Sir. I thought you ran a darn fine police department.

Thank you Chief Kowalski for your service to our community.