HAWKINS, Texas (KETK) — Hawkins Police Chief Paul Holland has resigned, according to a statement from the Hawkins Police Department. In a letter sent Tuesday morning, Holland announced, “I hereby retire from the Hawkins Police Department.”
Hawkins Mayor Debbie Rushing expressed uncertainty regarding the reason for Holland’s resignation, noting she had not spoken with him directly. The resignation comes just hours before Utility Director Michael Maberry was arrested for interfering with public duties.
According to Rushing, the arrest is related to a Nov. 22, 2024 incident involving a confrontation between Police Officer Dave Morris and a local resident, Todd Eddington. Maberry has since been released on bond but remains employed by the city.
“No one was even removed from city hall. They weren’t removed from the meeting and to my surprise, the morning Chief Holland resigns, a few hours later, Mike’s being arrested,” Rushing said.
Eddington said that he is not surprised Holland resigned, and is disappointed because citizens fought hard to bring him in and give the city a fresh start.
“Hawkins police officers are constantly violating people’s rights. We had a citizen, which was me, get assaulted at a city council meeting for just trying to speak,” Eddington said.
Rushing admits the relationship between the city council and the police department has been strained for months leading up to the resignation.
“We all have the right to our opinions and to express those opinions. But we as a city, police department included, we must all go by the law,” Rushing said.
In response to these ongoing challenges, Rushing has announced plans to potentially disband the Hawkins Police Department and rebuild from the ground up. A city council meeting is scheduled for next week, where officials are expected to discuss the potential disbandment.
“We need to just serve the citizens well by shutting down the police department and building what they deserve,” Rushing said.
This marks the third resignation of a police chief in Hawkins in recent years. Holland, who was appointed in June 2024, follows the resignation of Chief Guy McKee in March 2024. Prior to that, Chief Manfred Gilow stepped down in 2022, citing budget constraints and a shortage of police personnel as key factors behind his decision.
“The fact that we are understaffed in this police department. I have had two openings in the last seven months. We cannot fill them. Nobody wants to do this job anymore and sure enough, not for 15-16 dollars an hour. Target has a $25 minimum wage,” Gilow said back in 2022. “Therefore, I think right now, it’s time to make a decision.”
