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City council discussions to continue after termination of Van police chief amid public outcry against firing

During the city council meeting on July 5, community members expressed their opposition to Melissa Davis being terminated. The issue will be discussed this Thursday.

VAN, Texas — Amid public opposition to the firing, discussions regarding the termination of Van Police Chief Melissa Davis are set to continue at the city council meeting this Thursday evening. 

Davis was terminated Monday, July 1, by City Manager John DeSha. City policy that was adopted in 2016 allows the city manager to hire and fire an employee, Mayor Tammy Huff said in a statement this week. 

Huff said DeSha appointed Eric Doring as a commanding officer/interim chief. Because the issue is a personnel matter, Huff said she can not give any more details.

During the city council meeting on Friday, July 5, several community members expressed their opposition to Davis being terminated. After public comments, the mayor and councilmembers went into executive session, which ended with no action taken. Officials did say the issue would be discussed again at the July 11 meeting at 7 p.m. 

Huff said the issue will be addressed during executive session because it regards personnel matters. 

Clint McNear, field services supervisor with the Texas Municipal Police Association, is representing Davis in connection with her termination. He said that Davis is devastated after serving the city of Van for 18 years. 

"(She) worked through the ranks to become the police chief, which for small departments, is unusual," McNear said. "A lot of small departments have officers get hired there, get a few years of experience and then they try and go progress to a larger department. And she has been there for 18 years progressed up through became the chief, embraced that community."

Desha said Wednesday that the termination of the police chief is a personnel matter that he's not at liberty to discuss.

On the agenda for this Thursday, the council is set to discuss the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of the following positions during the closed session:

  • City Manager
  • City Secretary
  • Public Works Director
  • Fire Marshal/K-9 Officer
  • Fire Chief
  • Police Chief

After getting out of executive session, the council could take action, if any, about the positions of city manager, city secretary, public works director, fire marshal/K-9 officer, fire chief and police chief. 

McNear said there has been speculation about reinstating Davis, but he believes Van would also need a new city manager for Davis to return to the post. He added she wants to go back to the department and be with the community she cares for. 

"She's devastated her career to be ended this way. And she absolutely wants her job back. She wants to be back with the community but with a bad leader, I don't know how you stick her back in," McNear said. 

Davis and her family will be attending this Thursday's city council meeting with her attorney as well. She is exploring any legal solution regarding this incident, McNear said. 

Regarding the 2016 ordinance giving the city manager hiring and firing power, McNear said he thinks the city council will likely reconsider that policy,  

Van Zandt County District Attorney Tonda Curry is among people who have voiced their support for Davis. While Curry said she has not seen a document stating why Davis was terminated, Curry said the Van Police Department under Davis’ leadership is in the best position it has been in since Curry came to the area in 2017.

"Chief Davis is respected by her officers, by her peers and by my attorneys.  The investigative product provided to us for prosecution is consistently among the best in the county.  It is her experience and leadership that has brought that about," Curry said. 

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