Councilman Ussery: Citizens `Due a Communication' About Police Chief Firing and `Formal Search' Should Take Place

TSB Community Contributor
October 12, 2012 6:50 pm
Submitted by Travis Ussery

Friends and McKinney Citizens:

During my time in office in the City of McKinney, I have, above all else, believed, and continue to believe, the voice of the people should be heard and respected. I have embraced several sources for confirmation of this and two resonate of late: the last line of the Gettysburg Address: "... that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth"; and a quote from Thomas Jefferson to John Jay in 1785: "I think it is a duty in those entrusted with the administration of their affairs to conform themselves to the decided choice of their constituents." -Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 1785. ME 5:94, Papers 8:426. Given the volume of communications I have received on the recent administrative changes in the City of McKinney, I make the following statement.

The City Manager of the City of McKinney is empowered to manage the city as he sees fit, subject to limited recourse by the elected officials. The change of leadership in the Police Department is within his purview as City Manager. I haven't reached peace that I personally agree with the change, but I respect his authority to do so. I can not, however, reach peace with the means of delivering the message. Also, the manner of change in Chiefs is inconsistent with the expected process and transparency the citizens have come to expect and deserve. I believe the citizens are due a communication as to the nature of the change. Further, I believe a formal search for the best qualified candidate would be in the best interest of the City. Restoration of confidence in the decision making process is a needed and this would be a step in that direction.

I continue to listen to citizen commentary and appreciate the same.

Travis Ussery

McKinney City Council, District 3

Editor's Note: Please click on the link below for a .pdf file of the original signed letter.

Printer-friendly version


Comments

orangecat's picture
Sun, 10/28/2012 - 12:10 — orangecat

yes he is right. "A formal search". That is what needs to happen. Not just put your buddy in there, because you brought him over from Celina. Gray has succeeded in jeopardizing his career because of his haste in installing Williams as new chief.

I would imagine there are two votes on the council to terminate Gray's contract. How many more do we need? Let's get out and vote in May.

Texascommentator's picture
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 23:28 — Texascommentator

Ms. Bado and Son: It truly has been an interesting experience observing you both picking and selecting which postings you wanted to appear on this forum regarding the firing of our ex-chief. Truly this site has learned a great deal about media control from our current President.

McKinneyTaxpayer's picture
Mon, 10/15/2012 - 21:00 — McKinneyTaxpayer

Evil has a way to reveal itself in time. It seems that we have a real hero in our City Manager, Mr. Gray. I for one, am looking forward to our new Police Chief moving into that nice shiny MPD building while also moving into our Ex-Chief's big and shiny office. Hopefully, the next thing our New chief will do is to start cleaning house of the Dallas Police Department crew that came with Kowalski twelve years ago, starting with the top officers currently in the department. We truly will be a better city from the "cleaning of our MPD house." We can now look forward to no longer having innocent citizens shot thru their own doors, innocent people going to jail on false charges, swat teams making unauthorized break-in's to homes, MPD officers having intercourse with underage teens on their patrol cars, and a MPD officer on every street in McKinney that is a natural speed trap giving out speeding tickets, while high profile communities suffer under numerous break-in's and killings of residents without the gift of regular patrols from their MPD. As a great business man related to me about thirty years ago, "A Fish Stinks from the Head Down." The leadership of our ex-chief has not been without many scars and unanswered questions in police work over the last twelve years. On the surface it seems that Gray mishandled this, but perhaps after a deep look into the department perhaps he felt in view of his own personal safety from possible harm from our very own MPD, in the event he approached this dismissal in a slower method, might not have been a wise choice.

MatthewBado's picture
Mon, 10/15/2012 - 10:05 — MatthewBado

Travis, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on the matter.

HollyRothschildHobby's picture
Sat, 10/13/2012 - 02:01 — HollyRothschildHobby

Mr. Ussery, moments ago I posted on another thread on this site. Whether my comment will be deleted or not I have no idea. But neither will it matter. The only thing that does matter to me at the moment is whether McKinney Town Square Buzz deserves the admiration I believed. I do not know Mr. Gray or Mr. Williams. But I am weary of seeing vitriolic attacks on other people be that Doug Kowalski, Jason Gray and Joe Williams. Some people seem to think character assassination is their right. They fail to understand just how fleeting life is. Unfortunately some people also fail to understand that human beings make mistakes. But even more unfortunate, some people fail to care, instead proceeding full steam with acrimonious, if not slanderous assault. Whether Mr. Gray erred in the handling of a decision he felt compelled to make is one thing. But constant belittling of him and worse-- comments such as the one posted by "Wooster" stating Messrs. Gray and Williams "have left a trail a trail like outlaws their past is as shady as outlaws" is not only suspect. It smacks of a manipulative hand. Either you and McKinney Town Square Buzz are of impeachable integrity or you are not. Either McKinney Town Square Buzz and your reputation will remain impressive or it will not. I hope for the former. Therefore it is but a suggestion that you play with honor and integrity and delete prerogative comments unless you have irrefutable, apodictic evidence ensuring such comments will stand up to scrutiny in a major publication AND---a court of law.

Woooster's picture
Sat, 10/13/2012 - 00:10 — Woooster

Travis
What has happened must not be swept under the rug, whether Gray has the authority or not he has showed very poor decision making ability. Gray and Williams have left a trail like outlaws their past is as shady as outlaws! The city of McKinney day to day leadership has diminished to the lowest quality McKinney has ever seen and the city council/mayor are directly responsible for this outlaw leadership and must be held accountable.

Comments

orangecat's picture
Sun, 10/28/2012 - 12:10 — orangecat

yes he is right. "A formal search". That is what needs to happen. Not just put your buddy in there, because you brought him over from Celina. Gray has succeeded in jeopardizing his career because of his haste in installing Williams as new chief.

I would imagine there are two votes on the council to terminate Gray's contract. How many more do we need? Let's get out and vote in May.

Texascommentator's picture
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 23:28 — Texascommentator

Ms. Bado and Son: It truly has been an interesting experience observing you both picking and selecting which postings you wanted to appear on this forum regarding the firing of our ex-chief. Truly this site has learned a great deal about media control from our current President.

McKinneyTaxpayer's picture
Mon, 10/15/2012 - 21:00 — McKinneyTaxpayer

Evil has a way to reveal itself in time. It seems that we have a real hero in our City Manager, Mr. Gray. I for one, am looking forward to our new Police Chief moving into that nice shiny MPD building while also moving into our Ex-Chief's big and shiny office. Hopefully, the next thing our New chief will do is to start cleaning house of the Dallas Police Department crew that came with Kowalski twelve years ago, starting with the top officers currently in the department. We truly will be a better city from the "cleaning of our MPD house." We can now look forward to no longer having innocent citizens shot thru their own doors, innocent people going to jail on false charges, swat teams making unauthorized break-in's to homes, MPD officers having intercourse with underage teens on their patrol cars, and a MPD officer on every street in McKinney that is a natural speed trap giving out speeding tickets, while high profile communities suffer under numerous break-in's and killings of residents without the gift of regular patrols from their MPD. As a great business man related to me about thirty years ago, "A Fish Stinks from the Head Down." The leadership of our ex-chief has not been without many scars and unanswered questions in police work over the last twelve years. On the surface it seems that Gray mishandled this, but perhaps after a deep look into the department perhaps he felt in view of his own personal safety from possible harm from our very own MPD, in the event he approached this dismissal in a slower method, might not have been a wise choice.

MatthewBado's picture
Mon, 10/15/2012 - 10:05 — MatthewBado

Travis, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on the matter.

HollyRothschildHobby's picture
Sat, 10/13/2012 - 02:01 — HollyRothschildHobby

Mr. Ussery, moments ago I posted on another thread on this site. Whether my comment will be deleted or not I have no idea. But neither will it matter. The only thing that does matter to me at the moment is whether McKinney Town Square Buzz deserves the admiration I believed. I do not know Mr. Gray or Mr. Williams. But I am weary of seeing vitriolic attacks on other people be that Doug Kowalski, Jason Gray and Joe Williams. Some people seem to think character assassination is their right. They fail to understand just how fleeting life is. Unfortunately some people also fail to understand that human beings make mistakes. But even more unfortunate, some people fail to care, instead proceeding full steam with acrimonious, if not slanderous assault. Whether Mr. Gray erred in the handling of a decision he felt compelled to make is one thing. But constant belittling of him and worse-- comments such as the one posted by "Wooster" stating Messrs. Gray and Williams "have left a trail a trail like outlaws their past is as shady as outlaws" is not only suspect. It smacks of a manipulative hand. Either you and McKinney Town Square Buzz are of impeachable integrity or you are not. Either McKinney Town Square Buzz and your reputation will remain impressive or it will not. I hope for the former. Therefore it is but a suggestion that you play with honor and integrity and delete prerogative comments unless you have irrefutable, apodictic evidence ensuring such comments will stand up to scrutiny in a major publication AND---a court of law.

Woooster's picture
Sat, 10/13/2012 - 00:10 — Woooster

Travis
What has happened must not be swept under the rug, whether Gray has the authority or not he has showed very poor decision making ability. Gray and Williams have left a trail like outlaws their past is as shady as outlaws! The city of McKinney day to day leadership has diminished to the lowest quality McKinney has ever seen and the city council/mayor are directly responsible for this outlaw leadership and must be held accountable.