RESS EAGLE LAKE — Suspended Eagle lake Chief of Police Kris Abbott was of- ficially relieved of his command of the Eagle Lake Police Department on June 14. His termination by City Manager Charles “Tink” Jackson comes after a lengthy suspension while an investigation was concluded about instances where Abbott may have been derelict in his duties.
A five-page termination letter by Jackson outlined policy violations and actions that led to Abbott being released from employment. Jackson cites Truthfulness and Dereliction of Duty, Conduct Unbecoming, Unethical Conduct and Conduct regarding the investigation of Officer Christopher Cannon. Besides the fiasco with Cannon, the former chief of police is cited with violations concerning administrative duties as required by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and issues with another officer seeking employ ment at another agency.
The termination letter cites specific reasons and dates for the termination. Abbott failed to conduct an internal in- vestigation regarding a complaint filed by the sister of Cannon's first wife in a charge of felony bigamy. Abbott further gave the city manager false information about a certified document about an an nulment. His investigation relied solely on information provided by the person accused of the felony.
False information was given to the city manager about a conversation be- tween Abbott, Officer Cannon and the county attorney. Further, Weimar Police hired Cannon as a police officer based on false information provided by Abbott to the Weimar Police Department. Abbott failed to notify Weimar of the city’s discovery that Officer Cannon had sub - mitted falsified documents in the bigamy investigation.
Abbott failed to provide accurate information to the county attorney on Cannon’s criminal record, which Abbott knew about.
Abbott failed to provide the required TCOLE documentation on five of the eight Eagle Lake officers. He deliber - ately hid these deficiencies from the city manager and ran criminal histories on Cannon and another officer for employ ment just before a TCOLE audit.
He improperly ordered the Eagle Lake police officers to ignore a valid Memo randum of Understanding with the sher- iff's office and other police departments relating to transporting mental health crisis cases. Abbott also improperly logged into a confidential police com puterized system while on suspension under another officer's username and password.
In a case involving Officer Dustin Trench, a complaint of sexual harassment against Trench was minimized by Abbott when Trench applied to San Felipe Police when San Felipe performed a background check.
