BY RITA COOK / Freelance Writer
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ITALY – According to Italy Talk’s Ron Helms, Italy’s Police Chief Scott McAuley was terminated from his job Oct. 8. He was apparently terminated with no formal council vote.
Italy is a Type A General Law Municipality, and the police chief is appointed by the city council.
Italy Mayor Clinton Sulak-Tovar said, according to a source, the council was not asked to vote because, “the attorney said there didn’t need to be one.”
While the city has made no formal announcement, an appeal of the termination by McAuley was posted for executive session Monday night.
There was also an item on the city council agenda regarding the Police Department’s K-9 Karma and a contract for discussion with Clear Career Professionals to perform an audit of the police department.
McAuley was sworn in as Italy’s Police Chief in February, 2020 after a lawsuit from ex-Chief Scott Peters against the city was settled and hiring opened for the replacement position.
Helm’s noted in his article, City Administrator Keith Whitfield described the termination as “a decision by information” and “a joint decision made by city policy.”
The Italy Texas News and Transparency Foundation made an opinion on the “Termination Authority” stating, “The Italy Texas News and Transparency Foundation is concerned with the handling of the police chief’s termination and the broader question of who holds termination authority in a Type A General Law Municipality.
