Hearne police chief suspended without pay

Hearne Police Chief Thomas Williams has been suspended without pay for two weeks, KBTX has learned.

The action was taken without explanation Tuesday night at the Hearne City Council meeting. In addition to the suspension, the city says Williams will not receive a pay increase next year, and must receive additional supervisor training.

During the meeting, Mayor Gomez said three other members of the police department were named in a report and the council shared their concerns with the city manager. The personnel matter will be handled by the city manager.

Mayor Ruben Gomez told KBTX more information could be released later this week.

Gomez Tuesday night also told KBTX to seek a copy of a report from the Texas Rangers for additional information.

In 2017, the Texas Rangers said it was investigating complaints against the police department.

Documents obtained last year by KBTX through an open records request showed current and former officers complained of sexual harassment and unprofessional behavior within the department.

Robertson County District Attorney Coty Siegert told us last year his office was looking at criminal wrongdoing by several officers, including former Sergeant Stephen Yohner, who resigned in April 2017.

Chief Williams was at the city council meeting, but did not make any public statements about the council's decision.