Newly hired Lometa Police Chief William Koch resigned Tuesday less than 24 hours after the Lometa City Council placed him on administrative leave following an investigation into alleged policy infractions.
Koch had been sworn into office on Feb. 28.
Mayor Bob Butler said there is no criminal investigation underway at this time.
In a specially called meeting Monday evening, Lometa City Council members questioned Koch about policy infractions that had been brought to their attention. Koch was accompanied by a union representative.
“Mr. Koch did request to have his initial questioning in open session,” Butler said. “He did have a union rep present, but he chose not to answer my questions. … It was a matter of policy – breach of contract stuff.”
Due to the nature of the concerns raised, including claims of Koch’s “manipulative” and “angry” demeanor, said Butler, the city requested Lampasas County sheriff’s deputies be present for the meeting as a security precaution.
Butler said he did not have concerns for his safety or that of the council during the meeting, but he could not say the same for the city staff.
“There were some things said that made people uncomfortable,” Butler said. “Some folks were nervous.”
After questioning during an open session and a more extensive discussion in executive session, the council placed Koch on administrative leave, and the three LCSO deputies “were asked to escort Mr. Koch to get all his personal belongings and to the RV park to gather any city property he had there,” Butler said.
Butler said Koch was living in the city RV park temporarily.
“He was given 24 hours to vacate,” the mayor said. “That is not his permanent address.”
Butler confirmed that Koch went through a full background check prior to hiring and was fully cleared by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
He took the position vacated by Melissa Cantu, who was terminated by the city of Lometa on Dec. 8 after accusations of alleged wiretapping, a felony criminal charge for which she will face trial on June 24.
Butler said an interim police chief will be selected, and the city will begin the hunt for a new chief for the second time this year.
“I did not expect to be going through this again,” he said.