The Ellis County Press: Finalist drops out, Jacksboro chief to start Monday

Finalist drops out, Jacksboro chief to start Monday
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Editor on 09/04/2008 11:48:00


FERRIS - Hank Weber is out and Jacksboro's Frank Mooney is in as the new police
chief, according to City Manager David Chavez.
Mooney is scheduled to begin work Monday, Sept. 8, replacing Michael Braly, who
resigned over the summer to take a police position in Irving.
"…The first choice [Weber] for the position called to inform me that because
of recent health events with his father, he will be unable to accept the
position," Chavez said. "I then called the second choice on my list, former
chief of police of Jacksboro [Texas] Frank Mooney, to see if he would accept the
position. After consulting with his wife, he agreed
to my offer of employment. He is scheduled to begin on Monday.
Mooney, who served with Jacksboro for eight years, resigned from that department
on Thursday, Aug. 18, according to the _Jacksboro Gazette-News_.
Chavez said Mooney would be available next week for an interview
"Obviously, I was disappointed that Hank Weber was unable to accept the
position, but in the interview process, Frank came out very high in the
rankings," Chavez said. "He was a very close second."
After Braly's resignation, Chavez fired former Lt. Mike Zaidle "without cause"
after _The Ellis County Press_ reported allegations that a Ferris officer was
searching city computers viewing porn and chatting on dating sites.
Though Zaidle was not the source of the allegations reported to the paper, the
firing prompted the resignation of Councilman Fred Pontley, himself a former
Ferris officer and current Ennis police officer.
The city council has yet to make an appointment to Pontley's Place 5, Chavez
said.