FATE, Texas — The abrupt firing of Fate’s longtime Director of Public Safety, Lyle Lombard, has sparked intense scrutiny over the political maneuvering inside city hall, and raised serious questions about whether Fate City Manager, Michael Kovacs was pressured into removing a respected public-safety leader without cause.
City officials publicly announced on Nov. 21 that Lombard was no longer employed with the Department of Public Safety.
Under Lombard’s leadership, Fate rose to recognition as one of the safest cities in Texas, a point frequently highlighted in city communications and by elected officials. Yet behind the scenes, tensions were building.
Through an inquiry to the City of Fate, Pipkins Reports confirmed that it was Councilman Codi Chinn who formally requested that Lombard’s employment be discussed in executive session. Her request was seconded by Councilman Scott Kelley, triggering the closed-door meeting that preceded Lombard’s dismissal.
Neither the Council, nor the City, has publicly disclosed why the discussion was initiated, nor what concerns Chinn or Kelley raised during the session. What happened afterward, however, has become the center of the controversy. Although the executive session gave the appearance that the council played a decisive role, Fate’s city charter makes one fact unmistakably clear: only the City Manager can terminate city employees, including the Director of Public Safety.
The council has no legal authority over city staff. Despite this, multiple individuals familiar with internal discussions describe a far more aggressive dynamic playing out in private.
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.
[Update: As of 01/05/2026 – additional information has been presented that exonerates Councilman Chinn. Statement from Michael Kovacs instead implicates Councilman Mark Harper. Story: https://pipkinsreports.com/secret-recordings-rock-fate-city-manager-admits-council-pressure-as-anonymous-letter-triggers-police-chief-firing/ ]
City Manager Kovacs ultimately executed the termination, and the city has offered no explanation for the decision. Kovacs has remained silent during and after the executive session, even as community concern mounted. Pipkins Reports reached out to Kovacs for comment, and he has declined to respond. For many Fate residents, that silence is difficult to reconcile with Lombard’s long service record and the department’s stable performance.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mark Hatley publicly opposed the firing, stating he had spoken with Kovacs and an executive staff member and, “heard nothing that any reasonable person would interpret as justification.” As reported by Maci Smith (WFAA), Hatley credited Lombard’s leadership for Fate’s strong public-safety metrics and high resident confidence.
The involvement of councilmembers in a personnel matter has also raised legal and procedural questions. City councils generally have no authority to direct, influence, or interfere with employee-related decisions. This boundary is designed to prevent political targeting of staff and to keep personnel matters within the city manager’s professional purview.
Even more concerning for residents is the absence of any public accusation, documented performance issue, or allegation of wrongdoing against Lombard. The lack of transparency and the appearance of political motivation have fueled widespread speculation about the true reason for the chief’s removal. The firing also arrives at a time when debate over the structure of Fate’s Department of Public Safety has intensified.
Some city leaders have pushed to dismantle the unified DPS model and separate police and fire operations into distinct departments. While no official link has been made between that debate and Lombard’s termination, the timing has not gone unnoticed. Following Lombard’s removal, the city designated Ryan Ragan to oversee police operations and Captain John Taylor to oversee fire services.
Some citizens have called for the public to express their concerns TONIGHT, Monday, December 1st, during the council meeting. Social media is buzzing about holding City Manager Michael Kovacs, Councilman Codi Chinn, and Councilman Scott Kelley accountable. Calls are now growing for the termination of Kovacs and a recall election for Chinn. Kelley is up for reelection in May, and his participation in this event may put that plan in jeopardy.
Michael Kovacs’ fate will ultimately be determined by the City Council … Pipkins Reports (Fate Tribune) has published multiple articles outlining various controversies surrounding the City Manager. But citizens will have to engage and demand that the City Council take action and restore justice to Chief Lombard.
*This is an ongoing story, and Pipkins Reports has requested additional information as part of an open records request which is still pending review. We continue to interview multiple witnesses with knowledge of the facts. As we obtain more information, we will provide updates to this story.