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EAGLE LAKE – Police Chief Kris Abbott has been ordered to turn in his firearm and badge after being terminated by the city manager on Wednesday, June 14.
The Citizen has obtained the letter City Manager Charles “Tink” Jackson sent to Abbott regarding various policy violations that Jackson said were gathered through an investigation. One of the allegations is unethical conduct regarding the investigation of former officer Christopher Cannon. In the letter, Jackson states that Abbott failed to conduct an unbiased and thorough investigation into the complaint, which alleged Cannon of committing bigamy.
Another allegation involves Abbott not being truthful regarding a sexual harassment complaint against an Eagle Lake police officer and not being truthful regarding a TCOLE audit, which showed that five out of eight Eagle Lake police officers did not have all of their required TCOLE documentation under Abbott’s time as chief, further noted in the letter from Jackson. Abbott was also alleged of tampering with government documents regarding a TCOLE audit into one of his officers, as noted in the letter.
Jackson said, “I conducted an investigation, and we had an outside entity come in and conduct an investigation also ... it’s unfortunate, but we have to do what’s best for the citizens of Eagle Lake.”
In a statement to The Citizen, Kris Abbott said “[Jackson] has a history of unethical behavior and it continues with Eagle Lake. He’s been fired from everywhere he’s been before for unethical behavior. A leopard does not change its spots.”
Prior to his termination, Abbot has been on suspension since March.
Jackson said the city has posted the police chief position and is accepting applications. He said it will be open for at least two weeks and probably utilize a panel to interview the top applicants.
