City Manager Jason Gray said he evaluated the performance of Doug Kowalski, the former police chief, for a year and a half, before firing him, in a release issued to the media, including TSB, by the City of McKinney on Tuesday.
Gray also said he named his former deputy city manager, Joe Williams, as the new chief -- not interim chief -- because he wanted him to have full authority to make necessary changes. Gray would not commit to whether Williams will remain as the permanent chief or whether a nationwide search for a permanent successor would take place.
"This is a specific assignment for Chief Williams, and an interim title makes that more difficult," Gray said. "There is no specific schedule or time line for replacing Joe Williams as Chief. It will depend on how long this specific assignment takes and how we are able to facilitate the changes in culture."
As for Kowalski's firing, Gray said he fired him based on "how the department was operating and how those operations could be improved for the benefit of our citizens.”
Citizens have been divided and taken to the media, including Town Square Buzz, with a flurry in the past week debating the merits of Gray's actions and Kowalski's career in McKinney.
Efforts by TSB to interview Gray since the firing Oct. 5 have been denied. Gray also pulled out of a previous commitment to speak at a TSB-hosted Town Hall event later this month.
TSB has printed the entire release below:
Tusday, Oct. 16-FROM THE CITY OF MCKINNEY: McKinney City Manager Explains Decision to Name Joe Williams Police Chief and Path Forward for the McKinney Police Department
McKinney City Manager Jason Gray says he will assess the need for a nationwide search for a police chief after former deputy city manager Joe Williams has had a full opportunity to make necessary changes in the department. Gray said Williams will be given the time and authority needed to make the changes and provided no specific time line for his decision.
“The decision to replace a long-serving and well respected chief of police is not something that I take lightly,” said Gray. “It was not due to a specific incident but rather to my evaluation, over a one and a half year period, of how the department was operating and how those operations could be improved for the benefit of our citizens.”
According to Gray, his concerns centered on several important issues including communications difficulties between the department and city manager’s office on important issues, lack of consistency and accountability in disciplinary procedures, and serious issues with supervision.
“My decision to ask Joe Williams to step into the role of chief is based on the need to begin immediately working directly with leadership of the department to implement changes necessary to avoid problems in the future and allow the department to better serve our community.”
“I believe these issues are serious enough that it would be wrong to leave the department without a chief during the period it would take to conduct a thorough national search. I have great respect for Chief Williams’ philosophy of policing a community and believe that it is well aligned with the culture of McKinney. Chief Williams is a servant leader, and I know that he will use his approximately 20 years of law enforcement experience to continue to serve this community with the utmost of integrity and to the benefit of our citizens. Chief Williams has shown himself to be a highly skilled, fair and consistent leader over a long career in both law enforcement and as deputy city manager.”
“Clearly it would have been easier and less controversial to simply leave things as they were, but that would not be fulfilling my responsibilities as city manager,” said Gray. “I will continue to keep the City Council fully informed as this process moves forward.”
“Our citizens can rest assured that the hundreds of professionals in our police department remain dedicated to serving and protecting our community at the highest level.”
Q&A WITH GRAY
Did you fire Chief Kowalski via YouTube?
No. We discussed his reassignment in person. The YouTube video contained the same language that would have been contained in a memo. It was posted so that officers on all shifts could have the information at the same time with absolute consistency. It was sent out from me directly to employees in the department only after I had a personal conversation with Chief Kowalski.
Why did you feel it necessary to name Joe Williams as Chief rather than interim Chief? I want people to understand that Joe Williams has the full authority and will have the time in office to lead the changes necessary in the department. This is a specific assignment for Chief Williams, and an interim title makes that more difficult. There is no specific schedule or time line for replacing Joe Williams as Chief. It will depend on how long this specific assignment takes and how we are able to facilitate the changes in culture.
There are fundamental changes that require a different management and policing philosophy than the one I have been observing. I am responsible to provide the best results and the most effective public safety possible for this community, and I believe that these changes continually move us in that direction.
Why not say now whether you will conduct a nationwide search for a new chief?
I do not want to undermine Chief William’s authority by making it appear he is an interim appointment. He will be given the time needed to make changes in the department with no pre-determined time limit.
Does this mean Williams could remain as chief after the changes are made?
I am taking this one step at a time and do not want to pre-judge what the situation will be after the changes are made.
Photos: Top left, Jason Gray; Above, right, Doug Kowalski.
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Response to Eagle3187: Your posting as an "Old ex-cop" is most interesting. Is Eagle3187 from your current badge number or past badge number with the MPD? Since your questions indicate such a high degree of intelligence (I am sure from your prior test scores when you became a police officer Lol) I am now reaching for those folders with said information enclosed....let's see which folder was that? Oh Yes! here it is; the folder marked "FBI: Confidential Information. Let's see, let me read the contents to you...... You are the "April Fool"....Lol Lol...the watermelon truck went that-a-way. Have a good day ex-cop!
Congrats to the Citizens of McKinney, Texas: I wanted to take time to render my congrats to the level-headed citizens of McKinney who were not fooled by the "Obama type-media-hype" in have our ex-chief reinstated. It was clear that a small group of MPD officers under various screen names attempted to get Kowalski reinstated while trashing out our City, Manager, Mr. Gray. Any McKinney resident who has lived in the community over the past twelve years are fully aware that leadership under our ex-chief as well as his Assistant Chief has not been "Peachy-Perfect." When one reviews who is charge of "Patrol" as well as the "SWAT Group." one quickly identifies the culpit for many of the problems the department has had over the last twelve years. Hopefully, our city manager, Mr. Gray, as well as our new Police Chief, Mr. Williams will have the foresight to now clean house from the top of the department. From my experiences, the rank and file of the MPD are beyond reproach in the carrying out of their duties in spite of poor upper management at the top of the MPD, at the present, as well as in her past.
I think it would be wonderful for our now ex-chief to retire to teaching his college courses. Hopefully, the undisclosed reasons for his termination will not justify paying him a "very comfortable retirement" off the tax payers of McKinney. Our ex-chief did come to our city twelve years ago with part of a million dollar settlement jingling in his pockets from his prior position as an Assistant Chief in Dallas. In the event that it is disclosed that his termination was based on criminal actions on his part and higher members of his department, it is my hope that he will be criminally charged for such actions, up to and including his higher management personnel in his department that were involved. Since peace officers are expected to be at a higher level of following the law, if guilty of such criminal acts; it is my hope that his peace officer's license will be stripped, all severance packages, as well as the maximum time in prison. Of course the same holds will hold true for any higher personnel involved in such acts under his command.
I'm sorry. I must have missed something. Have you, Texsascommentator, learned something I missed? Was Chief Kowalski let go because of criminal misconduct?
You stated, "In the event that it is disclosed that his termination was based on criminal actions on his part and higher members of his department, it is my hope that he will be criminally charged for such actions, up to and including his higher management personnel in his department that were involved."
To me, that would seem to infer that someone has said he had committed such. Otherwise, why would you state that? If you have such information, then please share.
If you don't have any information, REAL information, that such activity was committed by Chief Kowalski, then you are doing a mis-justice to him, and all the readers here, by making such an inference. Last I understood, from the city, was that the Chief was reassigned (let go), due to "philosophical differences" between he and Mr. Gray.
As an "example", let me ask you, I hope that if you ever get caught abusing your dog you'd get arrested. Anyone like you, a dog owner, who would abuse their sweet little pup, should be arrested!
Wouldn't that suggest that I know you have abused your dog (if you even have a dog), and think you should have been arrested for beating and starving that precious little pup?
For you to post such comments, is totally nonsense, unless you have proof that such a inference has foundation and you are prepared to go forward with that. I'd be more blunt with you, but I expect I'd be edited out!
PS. I have no direct friendship with Chief Kowalski. He wouldn't know me from Adam. I'm just an old ex-Cop, and have seen the MPD at work, have respect such Professionals, and acknowledge that mistakes get made by the best of us, and those should be "properly" dealt with in a professional manner. The whole point to most these threads, revolves around the argued lack of professionalism in Chief Kowalski's dismissal. And HE TOO, should be considered INNOCENT of anything, until proven otherwise.
It's time to let go. Abraham Lincoln said as much over 154 years ago: "A house divided cannot stand" Eight years before Lincoln's famous speech, Sam Houston drew inspiration from the same bible verse, eight years earlier his speech when he spoke of a "a nation divided."
Speed forward to 2012 where the words continue to emanate in our own backyard. It was never Doug Kowalski's intention to become a lightening rod in the city he served as Chief of Police but when uninformed "supporters" took it upon themselves to charge into the night disseminating astonishingly groundless allegations, it backfired. Not only did their efforts attempt character assassination of Jason Gray, unwittingly assassinated the character of Doug Kowalski ten times over.
In effect, these self-ordained heroes, including city leaders, purposely divided our city. But they didn't just divide the City of McKinney, they went into overkill, making sure the fractioning was (and is) played out beneath Klieg bright lights as is evidenced by the reported article planned for this weekend's Dallas Morning News.
Let it go. It is not Jason Gray who has "embarrassed" our city. Neither is it Doug Kowalski, who for the record, deserves clarification regarding a highly personal issue. As for Kowalski altogether abandoning a small child leaving her with an abusive mother, only three people know the truth. One was too young to understand. The two who love her most will continue to ensure she knows how much-- and how deeply her father loved her then, and loves her now.
Let it all go. The small groups working so hard behind the scene to embarrass, humiliate and destroy Jason Gray are unwittingly prompting the same to Doug Kowalski. However unwitting, their behavior potentiates the same embarrassment, humiliation and devastation to a most beloved child.
Let it go. By his own admission, Kowalski had long considered retiring. He planned to leave law enforcement altogether and teach on the college level. Let him. Do not continue an obviously back-firing, dysfuntionally unceasing malevolent unwarranted campaign on a city manager who, according highly respected legal counsel in Dallas and Washington D.C. agree that Jason Gray may well be prohibited from sharing the full rationale for his decision, even to city council. As one attorney reminded me, only half in jest, "city council members are but small- time politicians. When was the last time you trusted ANY politician?" This well known Washington D.C. attorney said, "Depending on the circumstances it is entirely possible I would advise Jason Gray to divulge as little as possible to city council members. It may well be there are extenuating circumstances that only the city manager and legal counsel need to know at a given point."
Let it go. My understanding is that these small groups working behind the scenes to further decimate the reputation of Jason Gray are particularly proud of the reported article/column to run this weekend. Tragically their efforts will only deepen resentment towards Doug Kowalski, further dividing the city of McKinney which will domino on a child who means the world to two people.
Let it go. Reportedly is a much larger group of individuals than those attempting to annilate the reputaion of Jason Gray. Reportedly too, they are working altogether independent and without the awareness of City manager Jason Gray who strongly support him. Sources claim these groups are (quote) "too smart to publicly plant a pseudo 'Professional Evaluation; derail a youtube video intended solely for City McKinney personnel." Allegedly too, this group is "too smart" to post a glaring red "no symbol" splashed across Kowalski's photo splashed across a facebook page or anywhere else. Credible sources tell me theirs is a silent campaign "about as well orchestrated as a presidential election; one carried out on a much larger, influential scale at a level Jason Gray's detractors cannot reach. Sadly, both sides effectively dividing the City of McKinney.
Let go. Everyone, let it go. It's time to behave like mothers and fathers and city leaders and respected businessmen and women. It's time to for Mayor Brian Loughmiller to at least, appear strong. It's time to behave like, well....grown-ups.
Let it go. Doug Kowalski is settling into an academic career where he can soar. Let him go quietly the way he wanted to go. He had no intention of being a lightening rod. By all accounts McKinney Police is running smoothly; officers and civilian staff actually like Chief Joe Williams.
Let it go not just for Jason Gray, Chief Joe Williams and former Chief Doug Kowalski. Let it go for the city of McKinney. It's time to focusing energies on McKinney's untapped, abundant pool of raw talent void of centrifugal baggage perilously poised to separate neighbors and friends in the "Second Best Place to Live in America."
Let it go. It's time to reunite and redirect uniformed, self-serving negative energy to efforts aimed at making "The Second Best Place to Live in America, the First."
1. Town Buzz has done a good job of presenting both side of the issue. Thank you Bados.
2. The reassignment could and should have been handled differently.
3. The City Charter allows the City Manager to make personnel decisions that are in the best interest of the city. If there is a difference in management styles - the City Manager has the final say, even if it is not a popular decision.
4. McKinney is not the city of Dallas and let's not the two of them confuse.
The attempted trashing of McKinney's City Manager, Jason Gray brings up some interesting questions and subject to confirmation...observations. First, it has been related that Mr. Gray did speak with ex-chief Kowalski concerning his termination as police chief before releasing the YouTube announcement to personnel of the MPD. The YouTube announcement was not meant to be in a "public format" but specifically for the personnel of the MPD "only." Someone or a certain group managed to take this targeted announcement to a reloaded "public format," and re-released it in order to open it to public view. When the majority of the council felt that the reason for the firing were justified thru "closed session" information by Mr. Gray, why did this group feel it was necessary to attempt to trash Mr. Gray, and thereby attempt to fire Mr. Gray and reinstate our now ex-chief Kowalski? Was it perhaps to cover their own butts in attempting to keep future law enforcement investigations to proceed into their own financial activities regarding the City of McKinney? Shortly after 9/11 the FBI became unfocused on corruption in local city communities across the country while focusing on terrorist activities. Today, I am happy to announce that the FBI is now officially back in business in investigating such activities. Stay tuned....the fun will soon begin!
OK, if Mr. Gray evaluated the performance of McKinney Police Chief Doug Kowalski for the last year and a half, I wish someone would reveal where this evaluation is hiding? A few City Council members have alluded to it's existence. Open records received yesterday from the City's Records and Information Coordinator ( who is very professional and thorough by the way) only revealed the 2010-2011 Executive Performance Evaluation (above: filename HR.pdf under Story Downloads) in which Doug Kowalski met or exceeded expectations. When I specifically inquired about the omission of this current referenced document, the reply came back "The HR Department conveyed the 2010-2011 evaluation should be the evaluation 12 months prior to his termination or resignation. There were no evaluation for this year."
Was it a verbal review? Will the current Doug Kowalski Executive Performance Evaluation please stand up?
Thank you Tracy for doing the hardwork & finding this info.
The lack of this Executive Performance Evalustion raises a few questions. Did Jason Gray not Review Chief Kowalski in the previous 18 months like he said he had? If not how was there justificuation of the termination of Chief Kowalski? Is this evaluation missing from records because it shows that Chief Kowalski met or exceeded all expectations, like his previous review?
Either way it doesn't look good.
Krisina, regarding your comment: "We are putting together statements along with court transcripts that will prove beyond any and all doubt that there is corruption within the department." Sounds good on paper but It'll be interesting to see if you can back it up. I seriously doubt it but throw it out there and lets see what you've got.
BUT my main question is: Who is "We". It appears you are somehow in cahoots behind the scenes with McKinneyTaxpayer. Have the two of you (if there are in fact two different posters) been coordinating your posts?
It has been wonderful to see how Ms. Bado and her son picked and selected which postings they wanted to appear on this subject of the firing of our now ex-chief. They insured that postings seemed totally on the side of our ex-chief. Talk of Obama's control of media....Ms. Bado and son, you both had great training from our current President. Defeat Obama in 2012. All of this is such a great joke on the citizens of McKinney.
I waiting to see how long it would take Texas Commentator to blame President Obama for these actions and writings. It truly is humorous. Joe McCarthy lives and breathes in McKinney, TX! What's next TC, the President's fault when the crape myrtles don't bloom on time?...My only saving grace is that I get to read more of his blacklists for 4 more years after reelection!
I think TSB has done a great job in reporting this story. Your comments make no sense. What is your point?
I have been following this story since Oct 5 and have kept from posting any comments until now. Tonight I read Jason Gray's statement and the ridiculous Q&A attachement. This is such an epic fail on his part it is unreal. I have worked in City Govt for over 20 years. I don't live in McKinney but trust me, people all over the State of Texas are watching this unfold. Whether or not he had justification to terminate Chief Kowalski isn't the issue as far as I am concerned. Although I will say this...If the reason was as Gray suggested then why in the heck did he relieve the Chief in such a severe way? This is ridiculous. His reasons for putting Joe Williams in office is insluting for anyone with an IQ over 5... This is a buddy deal, and Gray had it planned from day one. I cannot believe that the McKinney City Council is allowing this clown to run city business after this stunt. Good luck Mckinney - Unique by Nature was something of the past. Until you guys get rid of the clown Gray you are going to be the laughing stock. Also, Mckinney Taxpayer... you need to take your tin foil hat off and get out of your mothers basement. Your facts are just wrong and a joke. Whatever your issue is with MPD then take it up with other avenues other that trying to convince people on a forum that MPD is corrupt. Get a clue.
I think McKinney Tax Payer has called out enough details in enough cases either badly handled by the MPD or not handled at all by the MPD to prove he is anything but a man wearing a foil hat in his mother's basement. The MPD has an extemely corrupt element. If you have been working with the City Government for over 20 years it seems you should have a clue.
Really? What facts? When we read about them in a major media publication and not on a forum then maybe he will have a point. Post up the facts and lets discuss them.
Several people are working to do just that. And very soon. If Williams has been appointed Chief so that he has the authority needed to clean up the corruption within the MPD he will soon have more than enough information to do just that. We are putting together statements along with court transcripts that will prove beyond any and all doubt that there is corruption within the department. It will be a proud day for McKinney when that department has been cleaned up. I should think that this will be something that the honest clean officers would be happy to see happen as well. A department with a stellar reputation! Imagine!
The statements that the police department has been corrupt under the supervision of Kowalksi is only speculation by non-credible sources posting online through an anonymous screen name. I am not stating that there is not corruption, but as of now there is lack of evidnece by these individuals.
You, Gray, and others are stating that the department needs cleaned up, and I have no opinion of this as I am not well enough informed to make an educated opinion on this subject matter. I do ask is Joe Williams the only person who can clean up this police department? Is there not another qualified individual who would be capable of cleaning up this police department if cleaning up is truly needed? We will never know if we do not open this search up to other qualified possibly more qualified candidates
Well stated Jolie
That sounds compelling and just like many posters have said...you havent seen nothing yet. We will wait and see what transpires. Until then, the whole point of these articles hasnt been the justification of the Chief's termination but rather the way it was handled and the perception of how it appears for the CM to have placed his buddy into the MPD Chief's position. That is the real issue at hand here. It skinks and I think most people who are following these articles would agree. You know as well as I do that if you or anyone else has evidence of wrong doing on the part of anyone then there are channels, other than a forum, to bring those issue to the table. Get a Lawyer and file your case. Go to the DA and file your case. Call the Texas Rangers and file your case. Trying to file your case via a forum is an epic fail.
Is that honestly what you think I have done? LOL
That is seriously your response? I found the LOL the most compelling part of your arguement. Nice job.
Really? What facts? When we read about them in a major media publication and not on a forum then maybe he will have a point. Post up the facts and lets discuss them.
Mr. Gray,
Through these postings on Town Square Buzz I was orginally a supporter of the Chief. As the postings continued with bits of information that had huge rings of truth in my own experiences in the twelve years of Kowalski's leadership, I became aware that you Mr. Gray were due a medal for your actions of courage, even though you knew you could be placing yourself in personal danger from the street-wise knowledge of the criminal methods of the top management personnel of the MPD. It is my belief when all of this finally is revealed, we will see Kowalski and his lead enforcers within the MPD face criminal charges. It truly will be a day of "Thanksgiving" for all of McKinney, Texas' citizens.
Lead enforcers? Criminal charges? Based on what? Your own personal biased assumptions?
I find it funny that someone such as yourself would post this kind of tripe against a man that has to remain silent due to a settlement. If Jason Gray is such a great guy and the next messiah of McKinney with the help of Joe Williams, Then let them speak for them selves. " No man is above the law, especially my officers" Kowalski once told me that after a high profile murder took place. Is Doug a criminal? NO! I dare say I know the man fairly well. That kind of conduct isnt in him. Nor will he tolerate it. So again some one with an agenda,"Probably someone like YOU, that got their butt in a crack and wanted the police to pull them out but wouldn't" has spoke out the back side of their head when they should have kept their mouth shut!
You need to take your information from crediblie sources. I know Angie, Matt, and several other staff members of Town Square Buzz, and they are unbiased in their reportings. If you think that they are not unbiased, please look at the other news sources such as the McKinney Courier Gazette, Dallas Morning News, NBC, ABC, CBS.... None of which have made negative comments on how Kowalski has led. The only thing that has been in question is a recent case which may not have been handled properly. If you go to any large department there is always atleast 1 case in which a suspect or victim is stating that the police department mishandled the case.
The true issue isn't if the termination of Kowalski was just. The issue is that Jason Gray mishandled the situation. The youtube video brought embarassment to our community on a national level. Then Mr. Gray named Joe Williams (who has followed Jason from city to city to city) and has been given top positions within these organizations without opening up the application pool to others. I am not saying that Joe Williams isn't qualified or that he isn't the most qualified person for this position, but we will never know if we do not open the door for others to apply for the position.
I like me some Jolie. I am not sure how you are mixed up in all this but it's nice to see you recognize you don't have all the facts but use logic and reason to articulate a response to some of the absurd commentary
You flip flopped based on postings on a forum? Making comments about criminal charges being filed is pretty serious. Where did you get your law degree?
Council, a nation wide search for a city manager should be implemented immediately.
I agree.
agree as well.
Even IF the firing of Chief Kowalski was warranted, the Youtube notice to employees, and even to some city council (as I understand it), was flat out unprofessional. Actually, it comes across more as someone hiding behind the desk and camera, so as not to have to face ones actions.
As for the rest, well, since Kowalski hasn't had a say that we've heard, we really don't know the whole story.
Short of some administrative/criminal conduct crisis situation, what I've seen happen in the past, is for a department head to be placed on admin leave, while a proper review is conducted, and then an action be determined. Looks like a few steps were just jumped over, and the person of whom Gray has had follow him to this third city (and placed in a position never held before), was suddenly placed in charge.
No matter how you serve it up, it just smells.