Our sister station WFAA obtained a letter of grievance from the Jacksboro Police Association against the city manager for “poor leadership qualities.”
JACKSBORO, Texas — The Jack County Sheriff’s Office is taking over law enforcement duties in Jacksboro after the entire police force resigned.
“All of the officers left on their own free will,” said City Manager Mike Smith.
Smith says all nine officers and former Chief of Police Bryan Corb resigned Wednesday.
The Jacksboro Police Department has not yet responded to a request for more information. Jacksboro is located about 60 miles northwest of Fort Worth. A call to the Jacksboro Police Department went unanswered.
“We’re hiring for a chief of police,” Smith said. “We’re going to let him or her build up the department from scratch.”
Jack County Sheriff Charles “T-Bob” Hauger said his deputies have been responding to all calls in Jacksboro for the past couple of weeks. A full-time deputy has been assigned to each patrol shift within the city, Hauger said, and additional deputies are stationed as needed.
Smith said on Dec. 7, 2024, he was pulled over by a DPS officer for a broken taillight. Smith claims he suspected some officers within the department were attempting to set him up for driving drunk. Records show no signs of alcohol were found on his breath or within the car.
Following that incident, Smith said he placed Chief Corb and two other officers on paid administrative leave and requested an investigation by the District Attorney and the Rangers. No criminal misconduct was found, and the officers were reinstated.
By January, Smith said some officers began turning in their resignations.
With the department essentially dismantled, the sheriff’s office criminal investigations division is working with the district attorney “to begin addressing the backlog of uninvestigated cases left at the police department,” Hauger said.
The Texas Department of Public Safety will investigate accidents, while the sheriff’s offices get a crash records system set up, Hauger said.
“We’re not here to completely take over the police department,” Hauger added, “but we have to right now.”
One former Jacksboro police officer who wanted to remain anonymous said he and others decided to leave because they were dissatisfied with the city’s leadership.
WFAA did obtain a letter of grievance from the Jacksboro Police Association against the city manager, citing in part, “poor leadership qualities, asking the city council and mayor to take action.”
Hauger said his office will meet with Smith and the city council to establish a more long-term plan for the city. Hauger also said one of his office’s goals will be “healing the community.”
“This is perhaps the most important goal,” Hauger said. “We must come together, move forward and rebuild trust. The best way to do that is through involvement, transparency, and open communication with residents and city leadership.”
Smith said he hopes to have the position for the chief of police open for the next few weeks.