Kyle City Manager Returns Police Chief To Duty

Kyle City Manager Scott Sellers has returned Police Chief Jeff Barnett to duty effective Thursday, May 28th. Chief Barnett had been placed on paid administrative leave on May 6th for the purposes of adjudicating a civil service matter. Charles Edge, a former police chief with the Waxahachie Police Department, was appointed Acting Police Chief and has concluded his role in the adjudication of the matter. Under the Texas civil service statute, all personnel decisions must be completed by the department head. In order to ensure full and complete impartiality, the city manager placed Barnett on leave due to his involvement in the matter. Barnett was not the subject of the investigation.

“I’d like to thank Chief Edge for the professional manner in which he handled the very important personnel matter,” said Sellers.

The result of the adjudication process was that Kyle Police Officer Jessie Espinosa was suspended indefinitely. The City of Kyle will have no further comment at this time in order to protect the integrity of Mr. Espinoza’s appeal of this suspension.