HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993 KB Fuller V.19PUM,e-Y. Pr C.dr .3 e
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NRWS
/ k I LEASP:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 6, 1993
Contact: Tom Hart, City Manager
(817) 685-1422
In a meeting tonight with the Euless Police Department, City Manager Tom Hart announced
that Police Chief K.B. Fuller will be re-assigned duties within the city, resulting in a change
of leadership for the city's largest department. After receiving the request from Chief Fuller
for a re-assignment, Hart announced the changes to occur this week.
Fuller said that even though he felt much had been accomplished in the last several years
under his leadership, he was personally ready for a change.
"I feel like the time is good for me and for the department," Fuller said. "As always I will
look forward for the department to continue to progress. Having completed 25 years of
public service, I am seeking different challenges."
Assistant Police Chief Gary McKamie will take over leadership of the department at Hart's
request until a search for a new chief can be conducted.
Hart expressed his gratitude to Fuller for his service to the city and the department as well
as his willingness to take on new challenges within the city.
"I appreciate and respect Chief Fuller's request, and I can understand his desire for a change
after a number of years of service," Hart said. "I am proud of what the department has
accomplished under Chief Fuller's leadership. We are fortunate to have a great police
department that is dedicated to superior services for our citizens. My goal now will be to
find a chief that will continue this tradition.I have asked Chief McKamie to serve as interim
chief during the selection process. My desire is to move as quickly as possible to find a new
chief to assume the helm."
817/685-1420
201 N. Ector Drive THE ' CITYOF Euless, Texas 76039
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NEWS
LEASh?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katherine Thompson
(817) 685-1426
EULESS INTERIM CHIEF NAMED TO TOP POLICE POST
Twenty-year veteran Gary McKamie has been named Euless' newest police chief this
morning by City Manager Tom Hart in a move Hart hailed as a step forward for the police
department and the community. McKamie has served in a variety of positions in the police
department since 1973, including dispatch, patrol, investigations and assistant police chief.
am proud to serve the community and the citizens of this city," McKamie said after the
announcement. "I have deep respect for City Manager Hart and the City Council,and I look
forward to addressing the issues of concern in Euless."
Hart said he did not have to look far to find a well-suited candidate for the position.
McKamie holds a bachelor's degree from Dallas Baptist University,is working on a master's
degree at DBU and also teaches criminal justice courses at the university. McKamie and his
wife and three children are also long-standing members of the Euless community, with
strong ties to First Baptist Church of Euless, where McKamie teaches Sunday school and
serves as a deacon.
"Gary will give this city strong leadership both within the department and in the community,"
Hart said. "He has the vision and support among the officers to move forward in our fight
against gangs and other crime elements."
McKamie said he plans to address community social issues and develop innovative programs
to deal with gangs,a growing problem in Northeast Tarrant County. McKamie will also carry
on existing programs in the department, and his personal goal is to maintain a high degree
of trust and confidence among the officers and the community.
817/685-1420
201 N. Ector Drive T H e , T ,, OF Euless, Texas 76039
EEss r--_�
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11 ' nISTRIBUTED TO: DATE : lei 8 3
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL /
III T. HART J. HENN IG '-``d S. CRIM DATE: /lj/7 7c3— / `
T. COX
CITY ATTORNEY •III Police chief.
• • .
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real sL r' Riled
..
ill in Euless . . ..:-•
/ gi 4/ .
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Fuller`read for •• a than e . "I feel like the time is good tor me and for .
y g the department," Fuller said in a prepared
but investigation a factor. - statement. "As always I will look forward.
.: for the department to continue to progress. •
BY DO><IINCORAMIRF,ZJR. Having completed 25 years of public ser-
Fon Won�Sur-Tetcgrtm • ��- vice,I am seeking different challenges."
•EULESS—EmbattledPoliceChiefK.B. • Last night, Cpl. Larry Glover said the
II Fuller was reassigned yesterday, almost a'. '. move means a time for healing in the city.
week after the Tarrant County district; Glover is president of the Euless police as-. j
attorney's office began investigating allega- . . sociation. •
Lions that city officials improperly handled "This doesn't come as a surprise,because
1111 open-records requests. '• ^.,. we thought something like this would hap-
- City Manager Tom Hart named As,;•
sistant Police Chief Gary McKamic in pen one way or another,"Glover said."But
terim police chief. '• �• •• ��• < � it's nowtimetomoveon.
• ' Hart said Fuller,48, requested the move—
III . • Hart announced the move last night at a• ' last weekend, telling the city manager that
meeting with the Euless Peace Officers Asp: • he"was personally ready for a change."
sociation, which had filed the complaint "I appreciate and respect Chief Fuller's
against Fuller and Hart. The 55-member. request,and I can understand his desire for
association has also had disputes with Full-• : a change after a number of years of ser-
erabout treatment ofofficers. vice," Hart said. "I am proud of what the
In his new assignment, Fuller will direct department has accomplished under Chief
two city projects:a library master plan and. Fuller's leadership."
a revision of the city's data processing sys -,t In his six years as chief, Fuller's achieve-
1:
Fuller's reassignment becomes effective ments included increasing the depart-
tomorrow.His 25-year lawenforcement ca= ' ' ment's traffic unit,adding a motorcycle of-
• reer included stints in Euless and'Dallas.: ficer for the 1993-94fiscalyearandcreating
He had been Euless police chief for six the tour resource school of(icerpositions.
years.
Hart said that he had not created a posi-
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,DISTRIBUTED TO: DATE: /O/ 7
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL //
T. HART J. HENNIG ?�
S S. CRIM _DATE: /C�/�� � 11
T. COX
CITY ATTORNEY
3 qz
,work," Hart said. "He'll keep that
Police salary for now, but if it turns out to
be a permanent position, adjust-
' From Page 25 mentswill have to be made." Pit
The district attorney's investiga-
•
tion was a factor in Fuller's dcci-
sion, Hart said, but it wasn't the
tion for Fuller, who will keep his only reason. �r
'annual $67,000 salary. Hart called "I still believe all that was a mis-
Fuller's new position an "internal understanding,but it's one example
lateral move." of what was on his mind to ask fora
"The city's management team change,"Hart said. FC
had been cut through the years,and Last week, the district attorney's
we bad some projects that needed office began the investigation after
4
the Euless Peace Officers Associa- the information. .
•
tion filed a complaint, contending Hart contended that the city has
that the city did not properly pro- provided some of the information
vide requested information on sala- and that a complaint was not need-
ries and compensation records of, 'ed.
employees. That investigation is. • Fuller could not be reached last
pending, night forcomment.
The association also maintained .. Hart said the city will begin an
that it received "pressured and in- immediate search fora police chief.
timidating inquiries by both the "I'm going to look fora chief with
chief of police and the city good management skills,a solid ed-
manager." ucation background and a str 111
The Texas attorney general's of- • law enforcement reputation," Hail
lice has directed the city to provide said.
•
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DISTRIBUTED TO: DATE : /t45A?.3
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL
IT. HART J. HENNIG L rYt_ C /�Q DATE: �� /9 3
S . CRIM
T. COX
CITY ATTORNEY
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Searei on for eviT v .
4 elesspolice , chief . ' .
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U Assistant chief assumes duties � ol la
17► ,
III , By L. JAMES KUNKE =- , :, was ready for a change. Hart made
News Staff writer the move official Wednesday night
during a meeting of the Euless
Euless City Manager Tom Hart Peace Officers Association.
gi said he already has begun the "There had been little hints
search to replace Police Chief K.B. leading up to that, and for some
Fuller, who left his position last time I have known he was getting a
I week after six years on the job. little tired and ready for a
IAssistant Police Chief Gary change," Hart said.
McKamie is di- j3. , .;a __„:_., "I think it's the right move for
recting the de r,, .; �x him at this time and I applaud him
partment until a ._f`; X for taking the action. He's done
permanent chief ,'; ,.�-",a many,many good things for the de-
is hired. Fuller, --' ,m... z partment. There is a time in this
was reassigned busines when everybody reaches a
within the city' ,r $` `, point in time to make a move, and
and now will ,?=�;�,t,,> •4= t the important thing is to know
I . oversee facility when that is."
master planning Fuller Hart said Euless started several
and a major upgrade in the city's successful new police programs
data processing system. under Fuller.
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011
"He was already assigned to "I think one I'm very proud of is
__ some projects such as the comput- working on implementing the
er project, and I have asked him to school program where the school
continue those projects,'" Hart said. district is paying to have police of-
0
"There also are some other pro- ficers in all the secondary
jects lie will be working on." schools," he siad. "There also are •
Hart said Fuller requested to be
reassigned last Sajurday, saying he ❑ Please See CHIEF, Page 5A
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DISTRIBUTED TO: DATE : //1/�5'A j Ii
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL
T. HART J. HENNIG /-X ('/./ DATE: /o//n/73 1
S. CRIM T. COX
CITY ATTORNEY
•
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DISTRIBUTED TO: DATE : /0/5/913
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL
T. HART J. HENNIG �� y} / DATE: Ip//7I9 J
S. CRIM
T. COX
CITY ATTORNEY
/mil
Euless appoints
new police chief
®EULESS —Gary McKamie, a
20-year Police Department veter-
an, has been named police chief.
Chief McKamie, who had been
an assistant chief, accepted the
post Monday. He was serving as
interim chief after K.B. Fuller re-
signed last week to pursue other
opportunities within the city.
Since joining the department in I
1973, Chief McKamie has j
worked in dispatch, patrol and
SI Investigations.
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DISTRIBUTED TO: DATE : <---- <
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL
T. HART J. HENNIG - 'A��rj _DATE: /v//%jl�9
S. CRIM
T. COX
CITY ATTORNEY
EHiess
.
ge.0-
ts new
.. chief-to�,fi�
0 20 year officer ,
McKamje chosen
Br DOMIINGOIZ4\IJREZJR.
a Fon µone Siar•leleFram
EULESS—Euless got a new po-
lice chief yesterday—just five days
after the last one quit the post.
Gary McKamie. a 20-year vet-
eran with the force who had been
assistant police chief for the past
five years. was named to head the
90-member Euless Police Depart-
ment.
McKamie- 39, who had been a
finalist for police chief at Burleson, .
replaced former Police Chief K.B.
Fuller. Fuller stepped down last
week in the wake of the Tarrant
County District Attorney's investi-
gation into allegations that city of-
ficials — including Fuller — im-
(More on CHIEF on Page 14)
2 _- !, :' ' "''''''• ' i::.:4 -. :1.'4:
�J 4- .i. ? �'.� r i
�d. t gyp' ' ;15;
fit J• -r 1f $s; t:k I;
1 Garytichamie: Named Euless ,
chief after 20 years on police force
l C ve^ i
e DISTRIBUTED TO: DATE : -) 45- '3
` MAYOR CITY COUNCIL
T. HART J. HENNIG 1���
S. CRIM
T. COX DATE: /C��/� 1�
—
CITY ATTORNEYBcdiord, for example, took months
Chief toselectnewpolicechiefs Despite the internal problems at
the pFrom Page 13 Hart underolice saidd nt he chase con fde cell er in
•
• !�3 McKamie. "I wouldn't have ap-
D1~ properlyhandled open records re- pointed him[McKamie]if I had had
a concern about him," Hart said
quests.
•
Fuller also had been involved in about naming a police chief from
ongoing disputes with the Euless within the department,
•
Peace Officers Association over "He has the confidence of the de-
whether his treatment of officers pattment, city administration and
was evenhanded. the city council," Hart said. "That
A week ago.Fuller was reassigned says lot about him."
to a city position and will direct two McKamie joined the Euless Po-
projects involving the library and lice Department in 1973 as a dis-
the city's data processing system, patcher and later worked as a patrol
City Manager Tom Hart an- officerand an investigator.
flounced his selection yesterday McKamie said youth crime
after McKamie,who was named in- would become one of the depart-
terim police chief Wednesday, ac- ment's top concerns.
cepted the S65,000 per year posi- The Euless police chief has a
tion over the weekend. McKamie bachelor's degree from Dallas Bap-
list University; he is working on a
startsaspolicechiefimmediately,
"It was a very difficult decision," master's degree at that university,
•
McKamie said yesterday. "My where he also teaches criminal jus-
heart has always been in this depart- tice courses.
ment and city," Hart,who has said that Fuller re-
quested a reassignment, said that
Burleson City Manager Kay God-
bey expressed disappointment that the fornterpolicechiefwillcontinue
to receive his$67,000 salary.Fuller
McKamie had accepted Hart's
offer. •
received a 2 percent raise for the
"1 felt Gary would have been a library and data processing projects
nice fit here,"Godbey said. "I cer- he was doing while he was police
tainly understand his position,but I chief.Hart said,
feel we have some other strong can- If Fuller's position becomes per-
; can-
didates." manent,Hart said,"a salary adjust-
Godbey+ days said she hopes to name a ment will bemade."
new chiefthisweek, Eleven ago,•
go, the district at-
Yesterday, the association tomey's office began an investi-I
praised the selection of McKamie. gallon after the police association
"As far as the association is filed a complaint contending that I
con-
cerned, everyone is pleased," said the city did not properly provide I
Cpl. Larry Glover, president of the requested information on employee/
55-member police association."It's salaryand compensation records.
a very positive step.We feel Gary is That investigation is pending.i
the type who will do a job." But the Texas attorney general's of-'
The speed at which McKamie was lice has directed the city to provide
chosen vas unusual.Grapevine and the information. w I
owned bvJohn Holt of North Rich
' ' The association also nas main-
and Hills,Afooresaid."He hasa
rained that it received "pressured 'Model-Tthat Ins dad'sgranddad
and intimidating Inquiries b} moth bought brand-new about 191S.It's a
the chielof police and the cityman- touringcar.Wehavealotofinter-
ager" about the open records re- esung cars.There arc a couple of'3S
quests. Fuller has not commented Chevrolets and a couple ofNlodel-
• on the matter. Ts:" i
officials
Besides his'38 Chevy.Moore has
Hart has said than city of
restored several others.he said.
have provided some information
and that a complaint was not need- "I've been an old-carbuiTsincethe
ed. early'70s."The club,which meets
the third Saturday of the month,
will resume its monthly meetings in •
:lpril. I
' DISTRIBUTED TO: DATE : /p o' i:.3
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL
T. HART J. HENNIG (-/14-C. /Z '
S S. CRIM _DATE•: . , 5,
T T. COX ---�—
CITY ATTORNEY
i. cKarnie: Saysrl in ...aré :•troubles ea y. e�� .
.. . . . .. . .. . . ....
nnade h ire a better officer today:
aJ F
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' 22, 1975, incident in which McKamie was j
• O Continued from Page IA fe l accused of beating a suspect with his ..1
flashlight during an arrest and again tat-
so I have er while the 46-year-old man was hand-
stressed to officers that they should do cuffed in the back seat of McKamie's
whatever they can to avoid even the ap- patrol car.
pearance of that," McKamie said. The alleged victim was one of three
"When I took this job everyone was people arrested after a routine DWI stop.
made aware of the situation and I wanted According to police reports of the inci-
to make sure everyone could live with it, dent, the man, who lived in Euless, was
so we're OK here. I knew this would the passenger in the vehicle stopped by
come out at some point. I have nothing to McKamie, and he and two other suspects
• hide and have been quite open with it." attacked McKamie. '
Several callers and letter writers to After the three were subdued with the
City Hall and the Mid-Cities News have aid of other officers, each was taken to
expressed their concern over McKamie's police headquarters in separate patrol
record. Icars. The man was transported in McKa-
McKamie spent a total of 29 months mie's car. He later alleged McKamie had
suspended from.active police duties, in- stopped before reaching the station and
eluding 18 months after a federal jury beat him with a flashlight in the back
could not reach a decision on a charge of seat.
civil rights violations. Federal authorities The man was treated for head wounds
dismissed the indictment in exchange for as a local hospital, receiving about 50
the suspension.! stitches. McKamie also spent three days
The charges stemmed from an Aug. in the hospital for treatment after the
3
incident. frankly, was probably a learning experi- Tarrant County was dropped after a poly
McKamie said at the time he had used ence that will make him an even better graph examination supported McKamie
the flashlight only during the arrest while chief." version of the story. •
fending off the suspects'attacks.Criminal McKamie received eight commenda- The federal indictment for civil right
charges were filed by the Tarrant County tions during his time as a patrol officer, violations came in April 1977, 20 month
District Attorneys office, but later as well as a five-year Safe Driving Award after the original incident. It resulted ii
dropped due to lack of evidence. in 1986. He was named Officer of the the mistrial and suspension.
McKamie said this week he did noth- Year in 1975 and Supervisor of the Year The other indictment in McKameelr
ing wrong in the incident and that he did in 1984. record came in 1984 and ended in Augus
not beat a handcuffed suspect. He also has received four written rep- 1985 when McKamie was found not guilt;
"My view on that has always been that rimands during the past 20 years, two in of civil rights violations.
I was doing my job and I did nothing 19'0 and two in 1976, and was docked McKamie said both the 1975 and thi
wrong," he said. "It was a very unfortu- three'days pay in one instance. He was 1984 incidents were difficult times in hip
nate situation and it's something I've had not suspended for any of the incidents, career, but both have made him a bette
to live with for 18 years now." The four reprimands were for mis- administrator now.
City Manager Tom Hart said lie re- placing a prisoner's personal property, "As far as my job now and my job over
viewed the 1975 incident when consider- failing to remove a loaded handgun from the past several years, it has been a bif
ing McKamie for the chief's position, but a prisoner, failing to remove a marijuana plus for me. It's not something that I an
decided the incident should not disqualify cigarette from a prisoner and a vehicle exceptionally proud of — I have ni
McKamie for the job. . accident in the police station parking lot shame in it in that I did nothing wrong --
"As to an incident 18 years ago, I moo- while responding to a call for assistance. but it's an unfortunate situation in your
rally looked at that as I would on any ap- McKamie has been indicted three life.
plicant," Hart said. "I was quickly told by times for on-duty incidents, twice for the "However, it has become quite posi
our city attorney that was not a concern. same 1975 case involving the drunk driv- tive because it has made me more aware
It was an issue 18 years ago that, quite trig passenger. The criminal case filed by of those issues."
DISTRIBUTED TO: DATE : %(, /2.3
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL
111 T. HART J. HENNIG j� ��L/ •
S. CRIM DATE: /Oht)//c,
T. COX
•
CITY ATTORNEY
I0
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Eules•s chief reson. ds
• •
to inquiries on record
By L.JAMES KUNKE ed of either charge, however, and
SI News Staff Writer said this week he believes the inci
dent has made him a better police
Euless Police Chief Gary McKa- officer and police chief. .
mie has been on the job for only a ' "I try to find a positive side to
week,but already questions are be- everything that occurs in my life,
gl
ing raised about a 1975 federal in- and the positive thing that oc-
dictment that led to a 24-month curred here was I became more
suspension. - • sensitive to excessive force ques-
McKamie was accused of as- tions and what those allegations
saulting a prisoner during and af- can do to a police officer's career,
ter a 1975 drunk driving arrest and
later was indicted on federal civil
rights charges. He was not convict- 0 Please See McKAMIE, Page 4A
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