Secret Recordings Rock Fate: City Manager Admits Council Pressure as Anonymous Letter Triggers Police Chief Firing
Fate, Texas — What began as a personnel shake-up has turned into a full-blown legal and political crisis for the city of Fate. Secret audio recordings, obtained by Pipkins Reports, reveal that Councilman Mark Harper, allegedly threatened Fate City Manager Michael Kovacs with termination if Kovacs did not agree to fire DPS Chief Lyle Lombard.
The implication, as understood by Kovacs in the recording, is that he (Harper) had a coalition, to include other Councilmen, to join forces against the City Manager, and threaten to remove him if he does not comply with their demands. A secret recording, obtained by Pipkins Reports from a witness, is of Michael Kovacs, where he alleges that Harper was among those who had threatened him.
This bombshell revelation threatens not just reputations but the city’s legal standing with regard to the termination of Chief Lombard. The combination of several audio recordings, where Kovacs himself admits he was pressured by “some” City Councilmen to take a harder position with the chief, or risk his own termination, indicates that his decision to terminate the chief may have been based on factors that are more political, than performance.
Previously on Pipkins Reports we had reported, “According to sources with direct knowledge of the situation, Councilman Chinn pressured City Manager Michael Kovacs to fire Lombard, allegedly threatening his own position if he refused. These sources say the push came suddenly and forcefully.”
In response to our inquiry, Chinn shared with Pipkins Reports a screenshot of her private conversation with Michael Kovacs, where she expressed her outrage over our previous story.
As additional evidence has become available, after reviewing the audio recordings, and evidence presented by Chinn, which is in contradiction with witness testimony previously provided to Pipkins Reports, we find there is no physical evidence that Chinn directly threatened to fire Kovacs. Our apologies to Mrs. Chinn for overstating her involvement in our previous article.
The new audio recordings, along with text messages and documents received via an Open Records Request (ORR), show only that Kovacs stated he was being threatened directly by Harper, and “some” other councilmen … however, who those councilmen are remains unclear, as all persons have denied the allegations and Kovacs refuses to qualify to whom he was referring.
Alleged Threats Captured in Recording
According to audio recordings, Kovacs states that “Council Members” threatened to have him terminated if he didn’t comply with their demands. For this publication, Pipkins Reports is publishing transcripts now and will release the full audio once legally cleared. At this time, we are also redacting the names of witnesses. Once the audio is released, the persons will be easily identified, and we will discuss sources freely.
Audio Transcript 11/12/2025:
Witness #1 – Directed towards Kovacs: “Can I, Can I ask a bold question? Are they threatening to fire you?“
Michael Kovacs: “Some of them, yeah.“
In this conversation, the “some / they” that Michael Kovacs was referring to is allegedly Councilmen Mark Harper, Codi Chinn, and Scott Kelley. However, Pipkins Reports cannot confirm any of them.
In a follow-up recording, Kovacs confirms and directly specifies Councilman Mark Harper.
Audio Transcript 11/12/2025:
Witness #1: “…when we were talking with Leigh, you mentioned that Councilmen had threatened to fire you and pull you into executive session. Was it just Mark Harper? Or, was it Codi? Was it Scott Kelley? [redacted] Was it …”
Michael Kovacs: “No, no. It was just Mark”.
Witness #1: “Just Mark?”
Michael Kovacs: “Yeah.”
Witness #1: “You mentioned Council Members … ”
Michael Kovacs: “People sometimes say, you know, hey, I’ve got, you know, X many people, or whatever. But um … it’s common. Sometimes they do, and sometimes they don’t.”
The answer from Kovacs reveals that he has received veiled threats from others, but a direct threat from Councilman Harper.
Obviously, Kovacs was unaware that he was being recorded. The recording comes from a person who was part of the conversation. Texas is a “one-party consent” state, which means that anyone who is part of a conversation may legally record that conversation. However, this witness was not the only one recording conversations; Pipkins Reports has multiple recordings by multiple witnesses with multiple people. Some of these recordings have been submitted to the City of Fate as part of an Open Records Request, as required by law. These audio recordings will be released after the city has conducted its review.
The Anonymous Complaint
Some witnesses allege that the scathing anonymous letter may have been written by a member, or ally, of the council, in order to justify Lombard’s termination. Pipkins Reports has not identified the author, and no public evidence has been produced establishing authorship. However, the content of the letter, which contains private information used in the chief’s employee review, lends some credibility to this claim.
Regardless of source, it appears that the anonymous letter may have been the undeclared, yet deciding factor to turn a normal employee review, with suggestions for improvement, into justification for termination. If so, when combined with the alleged coercion, it brings serious legal issues into play.
Under Texas Government Code §614.022 and § 614.023, any complaint against a law‑enforcement officer (ie: Chief Lombard) must be “in writing” and signed by the person making the complaint. (Texas City Attorneys Association.) The officer must be given a copy of the signed complaint, and no indefinite suspension or termination may occur unless the complaint is investigated and evidence confirms the allegations.
In this case, not only are there no signatories to the complaint, or to any complaint for that matter, but there is no evidence that any serious investigation into the complaint took place.
Officially, the chief was fired due to his handling of two main issues outlined in his performance review. We will discuss this in great detail in a future article. For now, let’s discuss how the timing suggests that the anonymous letter played a more direct role than we are led to believe.
The Timeline
September 30, 2025 – Chief Lyle Lombard completes his portion (self-assessment) of his semi-annual performance review.
October 30, 2025 – City Manager Michael Kovacs and Lombard meet to discuss the review. Kovacs rates the chief in several areas as, “Needs Improvement”. This is the first time in 7 years with the City of Fate that the chief has received a rating that is less than satisfactory.
Ratings include: Outstanding; Highly Successful; Successful; Needs Improvement; Unsuccessful.
At no point did Chief Lombard receive an “unsuccessful” rating.
November 10, 2025 – By this date, Councilman Harper, Chinn & Kovacs have had conversations and already know that Chief Lombard will be put in executive session. Based on subsequent recordings and texts.
November 11, 2025 – Codi Chinn & Scott Kelly discuss via text that Codi needs a 2nd councilman to put the chief into Executive Session. Kelly agrees to 2nd the motion. Kelley maintains his decision to second the motion was based on other performance issues. However, the timeline shows the motion occurred before Kovacs finalized the performance review and before any documented investigation.
City of Fate then posts the agenda for the upcoming City Council Meeting to occur on November 17th. Listed on that agenda is the Executive Session to review Chief Lombard.
As of this date, Kovacs had not yet signed or issued his half of Lombard’s latest, semi-annual performance review from October 30th.
November 12, Wednesday. Kovacs finally signs the performance review (now 2 months old). The review, gives every indication that the City will still continue to support the chief.
Also on November 12th , our Witness #1, meets with Michael Kovacs & Fate H.R. Director Leigh Corson. The witness records the conversation … and Corson emphatically states that they are not considering terminating the chief.
Audio Transcript
Witness #1: “So y’all are seriously considering terminating the chief?”
Leigh Corson: “No. were not considering termination, but we don’t know what’s happening Monday night.” Corson was referring to the upcoming executive session.
However, this statement conflicts with a separate recording made three days later by Witness #2, this time with Codi Chinn. In this recording, Chinn reveals that she had talked with Kovacs, [three days prior] and that a plan is already in place to terminate the chief, saying, “it’s happening”, in reference to the firing of Chief Lombard.
Later, in our interview with Chinn, she contradicts herself and stated that she had no knowledge of the chief being terminated until they got the official notice in writing.
Audio Transcript
Codi Chinn: “…it’s unfortunate because it didn’t have to be that way, but I think if he wasn’t so involved politically, right, like, if he was just a bad a bad chief, right, we probably could, I don’t know, we could rationalize it for maybe three years and deal with it. But it’s all the other bullshit that goes along with it. You can’t do the things that you’re doing on an operational level that suck. And then have a bad attitude and a bad wife on top of it. “
November 13, 2025 – Email between Kovacs and Chinn. Kovacs asks her if she will feel comfortable speaking during the Executive Session on Monday. She responds that she will, along with Harper and Kelley.
November 14, 2025 – Consistent with statements later captured on audio, the chief is verbally placed on administrative leave … in spite of the assurance of Kovacs and H.R., Director Corson to Witness #1, and in spite the fact that his performance review did not rise to the level of termination, based on Kovacs’ own words.
November 15, 2025 – Saturday. – Codi Chinn sends Kovacs the “anonymous” letter via text. Kovacs expresses zero concern or shock … as if he were already expecting to receive it. He notifies the City Council of “new information” that they just received. The letter is dated November 11th, the same date that the agenda for the meeting is posted to the public. The letter is addressed to “Honorable Mayor and Members of the Fate City Council”, but was allegedly hand-delivered ONLY to Councilman Codi Chinn … who claims she scanned it, and forwarded it to Kovacs.
Councilman Scott Kelley has stated he was unaware of the anonymous letter until it was provided to him by Kovacs and denies any prior involvement.
How long Chinn had the letter in her possession, and when she first discussed it with Kovacs, is still uncertain.
In an interview with Pipkins Reports, Lombard stated that after he was put on suspension, he was advised by Michael Kovacs that he didn’t need to attend the Council Meeting on Monday, November 17th . Not satisfied with that advice, Lombard decided to attend the meeting anyway … and was subsequently invited into the Executive Session. A move that is unusual, but not unprecedented.
While nobody attending the meeting is speaking directly to Pipkins Reports about what took place, or the direct conversations that occurred while in Executive Session, it was clear (to the chief) which Council Members were against him. Three stood out: Chinn, Harper & Kelley.
All three of these Council Members have very public and personal objections to chief Lombard, or his wife. It’s the type of petty social media bickering that is not worthy of inclusion in an article that has such serious ramifications as this.
The important takeaway is that up until the receipt of the “anonymous” letter, and subsequent pressure from certain council members, the evidence shows that there was every intention by Kovacs & Corson to work out those minor performance issues with the chief. That means that the anonymous letter, and the pressure from three council members, was the impetus for dismissal… not the reasons outlined in his performance review.
November 17th 2025 – Council Meets in Executive Session.
11:04 pm – After the Executive Session, Chinn sends a text to Kovacs stating, “I know that sucked but you did good tonight. If the officers/firemen who reached out can go through the Texas Municipal Police Association with their statements about morale would that be helpful? They are offering to do that so ppl can trust that they are actual currently employed by Fate DPS.”
November 19th 2025 – Chief Lombard returns his reply to the complaint levied against him by Kovacs. At this time, he has no idea the level of machinations that have been leveled against him. The decision has already been made.
November 21st 2025 – Chief Lombard is officially terminated. The reasons given are those outlined in his performance review and Kovacs’ “complaint”, and there is zero mention of the “important information” of the anonymous letter presented to the Council. Kovacs likely knows that to include it would guarantee a wrongful termination lawsuit in the chief’s favor.
The Performance Reviews
Pipkins Reports obtained Chief Lombard’s performance reports dating back to 2020. We will note that there were no reports in 2024 due to changes in procedures and software used by the city. However, there were 2 reports in 2025. One in March, one in October.
To spare our readers from a post that is already too long, we will save the full discussion of those performance reviews for another article. However, for the sake of this post, suffice it to say that until October of 2025, Chief Lombard’s record was exemplary. He never had a single bad mark in his record. In every case, comments made by Michael Kovacs himself, were regarded as, “Successful, Highly Successful, and Outstanding”. Including the report for March.
The last report, the one claimed as a basis for termination, was mixed with similar assessments except for a few categories, where Kovacs rated the chief as, “Needs Improvement”. In fact, at the end of the review Kovacs emphatically states, “Lyle is someone I enjoy working with and I want the very best for him and his unit in the coming year.” Indicating that in his current state of mind, Kovacs has no intention of firing the chief. This is further corroborated by statements made to Witness #1 days later.
Only two things changed after that time … the anonymous letter, and pressure from certain council members.
Legal Exposure: Why Fate Could Be Sued
Because of the combination of (1) coercive threats admitted by Kovacs on audio, (2) reliance on an anonymous complaint lacking a signed allegation or investigation, and (3) statutory procedural protections for law-enforcement officers, Fate faces multiple legal problems:
- A wrongful‑termination lawsuit under state and possibly federal law. Wrongful discharge claims typically succeed when an adverse action is based on unverified or pretextual reasons, especially for public‑safety employees. (Littler Mendelson P.C.)
- Procedural‑due‑process claims, for failure to provide a signed complaint, opportunity to respond, and proper investigation before termination, in violation of Texas Government Code § 614.023. (Texas City Attorneys Association)
- Potential civil‑rights or whistleblower retaliation claims, if further evidence shows political motives rather than legitimate misconduct prompted the termination. (DOL)
- Fiscal exposure — such a case could result in substantial judgment or settlement paid from city funds, imposing a direct cost on taxpayers.
In short: a court or jury could well find the termination improper, perhaps even punitive or retaliatory in nature. In addition, Council Members who may have violated the City Charter by coercing the City Manager could risk exposure and be subject to personal civil action as well as sanction by the State. Who knows what the outcome could be? But the actions of Kovacs, and the Fate City Council, could end up costing the taxpayers millions of dollars in legal services and settlements.
Why This Matters to the People of Fate
At stake isn’t just the future of Chief Lombard, or even the loss of taxpayer money to defend a potential lawsuit, but also at stake is the rule of law in municipal governance. Terminations based on anonymous hearsay and political threats destabilize local government, erode trust in public safety, and politicize law enforcement. This is a particularly dangerous path in a small but growing community such as Fate.
Residents deserve a government that doesn’t conspire to dismantle law enforcement. They deserve transparency and accountability. If City Managers are allowed to fire department heads based on political pressure, without signed complaints, fair investigations, or due process, the city risks institutional breakdown, not just legal liability.
Moreover, if some elected officials participate in micro-managing city personnel due to political or personal objections, it threatens Fate’s long-term governance culture, potentially deterring qualified public‑safety professionals from serving or even chilling whistleblowers who see administrative retaliation as the default consequence. True whistleblowers have safe and legal pathways to present grievances.
Responses
We reached out to Kovacs, Harper, Chinn, and Kelley for comments regarding this situation and the allegations levied against them by Kovacs. We received the following responses:
Michael Kovacs: No response received
Mark Harper: In response to all our questions, his response was, “No comment.”
Codi Chinn: In a response to Pipkins Reports, Councilwoman Codi Chinn denied ever threatening City Manager Michael Kovacs or participating in any effort to coerce him into terminating Chief Lyle Lombard.
Chinn stated that prior to recent events, she had consistently defended Chief Lombard and told Kovacs that she would vote against his termination if such a proposal were brought forward. According to Chinn, her position only changed after she began receiving complaints from officers within the Fate Department of Public Safety.
She said those complaints centered on officers allegedly being promised pay raises that did not materialize, dissatisfaction with departmental morale, and concerns related to the division of the Department of Public Safety into separate fire and police operations. Chinn asserted that these issues caused her to reassess her position reluctantly.
Chinn further stated that she believes Chief Lombard is more competent as a fire chief than as a police chief and that her support for his removal from the police role was based on those professional concerns rather than any political pressure or coordinated action.
She denied having any advance knowledge that Chief Lombard would be terminated prior to the executive session and stated that she did not know the chief was going to be fired before the Council formally considered the matter. This is in direct contradiction of an audio recording held by Pipkins Reports where she states that on Wednesday, November 12th, she had talked with Kovacs and was certain that the plans were already underway to fire the chief.
Audio Transcript
Codi Chinn: “… So when I talk to Michael on Wednesday [11/12/2025], he was like, no, it’s happening … And that was when he [Kovacs] told me that. And he was like, “So we are moving forward with it, you know, and after I’m gonna, you know, lay it all out for all the council, all the disciplinary things, and everything that’s been going on, and then, you know, so y’all want to say something you can, and he said, you know, after I hear y’all’s feedback, then I’ll have a decision to make“.
Scott Kelley: In a response to Pipkins Reports, Councilman Scott Kelley denied any involvement in threatening City Manager Michael Kovacs or participating in any effort to remove him.
Kelley stated that he has no knowledge of Michael Kovacs ever being threatened by any council member and asserted that he personally did not threaten Kovacs at any time. He further denied being part of any group or coalition whose intent was to pressure or remove the City Manager over the termination of Chief Lyle Lombard.
According to Kelley, he had no prior knowledge of Chief Lombard’s performance evaluation before the matter was taken up in executive session and was not briefed on the contents of that review beforehand.
Kelley also stated that he was unaware of the existence of the anonymous letter until it was provided to him by Michael Kovacs and denied having any role in its creation, circulation, or consideration prior to that point.
Regarding his decision to second Councilwoman Codi Chinn’s motion to place the matter in executive session, Kelley said his action was based on other performance concerns related to the chief, not on any threats, pressure, or coordination aimed at forcing termination.
What Comes Next?
In the next report, we will cover the details of Chief Lombard’s Performance Reports, the actual termination letter, and the rebuttal.
Stay tuned to Pipkins Reports.
San Angelo, TX – San Angelo’s battle over massive data centers has moved from City Hall chambers to the ballot box, and two council members could soon have to defend their seats before voters angry about how the city has handled the projects. What began as a fight over water, power, development and transparency is now a full-blown political revolt, with recall efforts targeting Council Members Harry Thomas and Joe Self.
And the controversy comes at an interesting moment for Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state regulators to conduct a comprehensive audit of data centers moving through the state’s electric grid interconnection process, saying the review must be completed before any data center project moves forward. ERCOT subsequently told Fox News Digital that Abbott’s directive “effectively pauses all data center projects” while the state reviews their demands on the grid.
That means the questions being shouted at San Angelo City Hall are no longer merely local complaints from residents opposed to a particular development. Texas officials are now asking some of the same questions.
Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT to examine pending data center projects and gather information, including projected annual and peak electricity demand, water consumption, water sources, and whether facilities intend to generate some of their own electricity. ERCOT reported that roughly 90 percent of the 474 gigawatts of large-load interconnection requests currently under review are associated with data centers, more than five times Texas’ record peak electricity demand.
Back in San Angelo, the San Angelo Data Center Citizen Coalition has been pushing its own accountability campaign.
A petition seeking the recall of Council Member Harry Thomas, who represents Single Member District 3, was submitted July 15 with more than the required signatures. The city clerk later certified the petition after determining 53 signatures were sufficient, clearing the way for a recall election.
Following public comment, the City Council voted 6-1 to call the recall election.
Thomas has maintained that he has no intention of resigning.
“I weigh every decision I’ve ever made on behalf of the 100,000 citizens in San Angelo,” Thomas said after the petition was submitted. “Every time I vote, I vote for all the citizens. I have no plans to resign from my position.”
Self is now facing his own recall effort.
The coalition submitted an affidavit seeking Self’s recall and subsequently collected the signatures necessary to move forward. On Aug. 6, Self issued a statement saying he supports residents’ right to seek a recall but rejected what he described as misinformation about his involvement with data centers.
“I have not signed any non-disclosure agreements,” Self said. “I have not benefited financially. I have not voted in favor of a data center.”
Self said the council has instead voted on regulations that would apply if a data center is established in San Angelo.
That distinction between approving a specific project and approving regulations governing potential projects has become one of the central arguments in the political fight. San Angelo officials have considered rules addressing land use, water and wastewater issues as the city confronts proposals for large-scale data center development.
The proposed Skybox project has become particularly contentious. City officials have described it as a potential $7.2 billion investment, while opponents have raised concerns about water consumption, electricity demand, infrastructure, noise and transparency surrounding the development process.
The political consequences are spreading beyond San Angelo.
Residents in Temple and Granbury have also launched recall or charter efforts amid disputes over data center development. In Temple, opponents have cited concerns about land, water consumption and heat generated by facilities. In Granbury, activists gathered signatures seeking recalls involving the mayor and most members of the City Council.
Art & Culture
McKinney Approves Controversial Islamic Center After Marathon Meeting That Exposed Deep Divisions
McKinney, TX – After nearly six hours of emotional testimony, shouted applause, boos, and police intervention, the McKinney City Council unanimously approved plans Tuesday night for a new Islamic center, closing another chapter in a debate that has simmered in Collin County for years. The vote may have been unanimous, but it certainly wasn’t uncontroversial.
Just before 11:30 p.m. on August 4, the council voted 7-0 to approve the site plan for the McKinney Islamic Association‘s proposed campus on roughly 5.5 acres at Virginia Parkway and Crutcher Crossing. City officials repeatedly emphasized that the decision before them was not whether Islam should have a place of worship in McKinney, but whether the submitted site plan complied with existing city ordinances and development standards. According to council members, the property’s current planned development zoning already permits religious assembly, leaving the city with little legal discretion to deny an otherwise compliant application.
The approved project includes a roughly 15,000-square-foot sanctuary, a classroom building of approximately 10,000 square feet, a 7,000-square-foot multi-purpose gymnasium, parking, and related site improvements. The McKinney Islamic Association says its current facility, where it has served the community for decades, can no longer accommodate its growing congregation.
The meeting itself became the story.
More than 150 people registered to speak, forcing city officials to delay the start of the regular meeting while names were entered into the system. Supporters and opponents packed the council chambers, overflow rooms, and hallways, creating an atmosphere that multiple local news outlets described as tense and, at times, hostile.
Opponents raised a mix of concerns.
Some focused squarely on practical issues, including increased traffic, parking shortages, neighborhood compatibility, and whether a campus serving large numbers of worshippers could comfortably fit on the site. Others voiced broader objections rooted in concerns about Islamic doctrine, Sharia law, and the changing cultural landscape of North Texas. Congressman Keith Self, whose district includes McKinney, spoke against the proposal before public testimony began, warning of dangers he associates with extremist interpretations of Islam.
Supporters argued that the project involved a long-established congregation simply seeking room to grow. They pointed to constitutional protections for religious liberty and rejected accusations directed toward the association as prejudice against Muslim residents. Veterans, longtime community members, and faith leaders urged the council to evaluate the application based on municipal law rather than religious disagreement.
Former McKinney Mayor George Fuller received one of the night’s harshest public receptions after speaking in support of the project. He was booed by portions of the crowd, and according to WFAA, police escorted him from the building after a woman reportedly shoved a sign reading “Don’t Sharia My Texas” into his shirt while he exited the meeting.
Despite the emotional testimony, council members repeatedly returned to the same legal conclusion, the site plan either met the city’s development requirements or it did not. Planning and Zoning had already recommended approval in July, and council members indicated denying a compliant application would almost certainly expose the city to litigation it was unlikely to win. Previous proposals involving substantially larger facilities required rezoning and were rejected, but the revised plan fits within the property’s existing zoning framework.
The approval does not authorize immediate construction. The project must still complete platting requirements, undergo a traffic study, and obtain building permits before construction can begin.
Below is the list of the current city council that voted 7/0 to approve the project.
| Member Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Cox | Mayor | |
| Rick Franklin | Mayor Pro Tem – District 4 | |
| Justin Beller | Council Member – District 1 | |
| Patrick Cloutier | Council Member – District 2 | |
| Geré Feltus | Council Member – District 3 | |
| Ernest Lynch | Council Member – At Large 1 | |
| Michael Jones | Council Member – At Large 2 |
Fate Council Dropped Case Before Reviewing
Fate, TX — An ethics investigation commissioned by the City of Fate concluded that former Councilwoman Codi Chinn violated the City’s Code of Ethics before the City Council voted earlier this month to discontinue the matter, according to documents obtained by Pipkins Reports through an Open Records Request.
The report, prepared by attorney Laura Mueller of the law firm Baker, Robertson & O’Brien, found that the allegation against Chinn was “substantiated, but with mitigating factors.”
The Executive Summary states:
“After investigation, my determination is that allegation of a violation of the Ethics Code is substantiated, but with mitigating factors.”
The report concludes that Chinn violated Section 2-309(10) of the City’s Code of Ethics after directing City employees to provide their concerns to her in writing.
“After reviewing the Charter, the Code of Ethics, and reviewing all of the evidence, my conclusion is that Ms. Chinn violated Section 2-309(10) of the Code of Ethics when she directed employees to provide information to her in writing.”
Mueller also concluded that mitigating circumstances should be considered because Chinn immediately informed City Manager Michael Kovacs about the employee concerns and because the employees ultimately submitted their written complaints directly to the City.
Council Ends Investigation
The ethics complaint summary report was scheduled to appear on the July 6 City Council agenda for executive session discussion.
Instead of going into Executive Session, the Council waived deliberative privilege and discussed the matter in open session where they ultimately voted to discontinue the ethics proceedings and drop the matter, before being presented with the findings from Mueller.
The Council did not impose any sanction against Chinn.
The following day, Pipkins Reports requested a copy of the complaint and the investigative report, and received it through an Open Records Request.
Investigation Details
According to the report, investigators interviewed Chinn, Councilman Mark Harper, City Manager Michael Kovacs, and other witnesses.
Regarding the allegations, Mueller wrote:
“In my interview with Ms. Chinn and Mr. Harper, we discussed the allegation. I questioned Ms. Chinn about her conversations with city employees and with Mr. Kovacs.”
According to the report, Chinn stated that city employees approached her seeking assistance and that she intended to present their concerns to the City Manager after compiling the information.
However, the report states that employees instead prepared a letter addressed to the City Council. Chinn then instructed them to provide the letter directly to the City Manager.
The report also summarizes Kovacs’ account of the events.
“Mr. Kovacs stated that he received the letter outlining the employee issues directly from an officer, but with the understanding that the information was given to him at the direction of Ms. Chinn.”
Previously, it was reported that Chinn provided a copy of an, “anonymous letter”, that she claims was provided by DPS officers to her. Chinn further states that she sent the letter to Michael Kovacs … who then forwarded it on to the rest of the Council. This report also states that Kovacs told investigators he had warned Chinn against communicating with employees in that manner.
Pipkins Reports continues to investigate this aspect of the situation … as the conditions shed new light on the events that have transpired with regard to the termination of DPS Chief Lyle Lombard.
Meanwhile, the city council’s decision effectively ended the ethics proceeding against Chinn without imposing any sanction or issuing any formal determination of its own regarding the investigator’s findings. While the Council possessed the authority to discontinue the matter, the decision also brought the ethics process to a close despite an independent investigation concluding that a violation of the City’s Code of Ethics had occurred.
For the complainant, Darcy Gildon, the Council’s action marked the end of a process that resulted in no public accountability beyond the release of the investigative report which Pipkins Reports has now provided.
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