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Eagle Lake officials submitted formal paperwork directing investigator Jesse Prado to launch a formal investigation into Eagle Lake Police Chief Donald Chaney, Monday, Feb. 23.
Eagle Lake City Manager Tink Jackson said the city acted under the recommendation of city attorney Philip J. Boedeker after reviewing Prado’s evaluation draft report and former Eagle Lake PD Lt. Sterling Hubenak’s 13-page resignation letter. According to Jackson, Boedeker identified overlaps concerning retention and internal disciplinary action and advised investigating those allegations.
“It’s not based on any hard facts anywhere. It’s just based on statements that were made by people not under oath,” Jackson said. “But this recommendation was let’s go ahead and do the investigation, and that way it looks like we’re being extra careful with this and not ignoring this.”
Officials filed a “614 letter”, a formal notification of a complaint and pending investigation against a peace officer or firefighter that must be in writing and signed by the complainant as outlined in Texas Government Code Chapter 614. Jackson said a letter was only issued for Chaney at this time. He clarified that the main difference between the evaluation and investigation is the potential for disciplinary action.
“The major difference is that there can actually be a personnel action arise from an investigation where you don’t have any personnel actions that can arise from an evaluation,” Jackson said.
Jackson said a large portion of the overlaps concerned officers alleging that they were told to resign or be eventually fired. He said allegations of gender and racial discrimination were dismissed in the evaluation due to “zero evidence.” However, he said Boedeker has not shared the draft evaluation with him and attributed it to wanting to preserve the integrity of testimonies. Those who file a formal complaint or participate in an investigation must do so under oath or face perjury.
“I have a feeling we’ll see some stories change now when they’re getting called,” Jackson said. “…He wants to make sure their statements don’t change before he puts [it] out because… once something gets printed out in the world, you’re guilty.”
A 614 letter and the resulting investigation’s conclusion goes on to an officer’s permanent record. Jackson said officers usually want to have the letter on file to combat public opinion.
“Even the old chief was in the executive session. We talked about it,” Jackson said, referencing Prado’s investigation of former Eagle Lake Police Chief Kristopher Abbott in June 2023. “He’s like, ‘Absolutely, I want my name cleared. We need to move forward. I’ll voluntarily accept that 614, and let’s move forward.’” The investigation into Abbott resulted in nine policy violations and his termination. Prado has served the city as an investigator for over five years. He previously served at Austin Police Department for over 25 years and now conducts high-level investigations across the state, notably his 20-month investigation of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde.
Jackson estimated for the investigation to last a “really quick” “three weeks at the most” as Prado might have other ongoing investigations. Jackson said Prado reported finalizing a couple of capital cases when he started the evaluation.
