Maypearl City Council Says They Can't Terminate Former PD Chief
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ELLIS COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) - A special city council meeting in Maypearl wrapped up just before 6 p.m. Saturday. City leaders talked about what's next for them and for former police Chief Kevin Coffey. The 49-year-old is facing four felony count child sex charges.
The Maypearl City Council gathered to talk about what action, if any, they could take against Coffey.
During the public portion of the meeting Maypearl Mayor Adele Mooney read a statement outlining the steps required to fire Chief Coffey, who is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl.
After an hour-long, closed-door executive session Mayor Mooney came out and said, "Since the resignation on Wednesday, of the former Chief, the Council cannot terminate him. However, we wish for it to be known that this council would have preferred dealing with this circumstance by terminating the former Chief."
Coffey is facing charges of Indecency with a Child by Contact, Sexual Performance by a Child, Sexual Assault of a Child and Indecency with a Child by Exposure. As of Saturday evening he remained in the Ellis County Jail on a $350,000 bond.
With Coffey's resignation and the Council's inability to take further action, city leaders are now focused on searching for an interim police chief.
According to officials, Coffey had allegedly been carrying on a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. It was reportedly a relationship that involved him exposing himself, having online video chats with and sexually touching the teen. In at least one situation the former Chief allegedly grabbed the girl's hair and kissed her, before inappropriately touching her.
The Texas Rangers, Texas Attorney General's Office Child Exploitation Unit and Ellis County District Attorney's Office are all a part of the investigation.
Earlier Saturday dozens of people gathered for an impromptu prayer vigil in front of Maypearl City Hall. People in the community organized the event. Residents say their small town has been torn apart by all of the accusations and anger flying around. Those in attendance said they are turning to prayer to begin the process of healing.
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