Police department dominates talk at council meeting

WEIMAR – The April 11 regularly scheduled City Council meeting featured several discussions regarding the Police Department as Chief Mark Jameson presented a new officer, symbols and a proposal for a new vehicle.  

The first of Chief Jameson’s addresses to the council began with the introduction of new officer Frank Maier to their ranks.  The former K-9 unit handler for the office Wharton County Sheriff’s Office. The hire of Maier officially filled the last open position for WPD, meaning the department is fully staffed for the first time in Jameson’s brief tenure so far.  

Following the presentation, Councilman Kevin “Catfish” Janecka expressed concerns with a few articles detailing a report of Maier being arrested on charges of disorderly conduct by his former employer, the Wharton County Sheriff’s Office. According to the article found on thecountygin.com, he had allegedly been reported to be intoxicated before being involved in a “verbal disturbance with a female acquaintance” on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021 just before midnight.  

In a press release by the Wharton County Sheriff at the time, Shannon Srubar, he explained that the police determined Maier had damaged the acquaintance’s vehicle with landscaping bricks.  

Maier was placed on administrative leave immediately after filing a Personal Recognizance Bond and being released from custody on the same date as his arrest. 

During the investigation, Maier resigned on Tuesday, Oct. 5 before the investigation concluded.  

Later in the article, the author includes that Maier had no disciplinary write-ups prior to the incident, and the file released had a single evaluation that contained a good rating from the department. 

When questioned, Chief Jameson expressed initially that he had no knowledge of the article but assured that the police department’s background check process is solid. City Manager Robert Whitten and Chief Jameson did discuss the situation surrounding Maier at Wharton County, and both expressed that they felt comfortable bringing Maier into the fold despite the allegations.  

Whitten placed his stamp on the statement, vouching for the department’s process and due diligence in terms of investigating these claims. He announced his total support for Chief Jameson as well as the Weimar Police Department as a whole.  

“The buck stops with me,” Whitten said on backing the hire. 

During Jameson’s report following the Maier discussion, he showed that calls for police were increasing in the city. He and his staff held a meeting where they expressed that this could potentially be due to the growing trust of residents in the police department.  

Chief Jameson also presented the new badge and patch for Weimar officers that display a symbol unique to Weimar.  

The new look also came with a request for new equipment as Jameson later in the meeting expressed a need for the purchase of a vehicle that could be converted into a patrol vehicle for the police chief. In his proposal, he requested $29,760 from the city’s equipment fund to help supplement the cost. The rest of the funds would be supplied by forfeiture and department funds.  

Ther department will also have four vehicles up for auction, but the funds from those sales will be included in the general fund, and not as equipment fund reimbursement. 

In other news, the city plans to send a grant request to the Texas General Land Office to receive funds for flood mitigation along with other potential hazards. 

The council also moved to approve the usual street closings for the annual Gedenke! event in May. 

In terms of new hires, Whitten also introduced new Public Works Director Derek Swenke who will take over as the point of contact for that department. 

The city announced Weimar’s Spring Clean Up day at the transfer station on April 20 from 8 a.m. to noon. Residents can bring their large trash items along with proof of residency for disposal. Hazardous material will not be allowed.  

The city also announced the library open mic night on April 25 at 6:30 p.m.