Kingston Town Council, in a 3-1 vote, terminated Police Chief Kasey Cox after an executive session during a monthly meeting May 14.
Mayor Sarah Jones made a motion that Cox be terminated on “the betterment of the town” which prompted shouts of “No” from citizens attending the meeting.
“It sounds like your town is talking to you right now,” a citizen said. “This is your town.”
It was also stated that the town needs a new mayor and the board should be replaced.
Vice Mayor Loren Runyan was the only one to vote against the termination. Along with Jones, Max Ponder and Donna Stowe voted for terminating Cox. Danny Southerlend resigned from the council earlier this month and he was not present.
Ponder said Cox is difficult to contact by phone and he mentioned the tornado a couple of years ago.
“Several of us tried to get ahold of the chief,” Ponder said. “Every Friday through Sunday, he’s gone. He does not answer his city phone. He does not answer his personal phone. What happens if something happens in the city and we can’t get ahold of our chief? That is a fact.”
Cox replied, “That is a lie. I answer my personal phone.”
Cox said he does not answer his work phone because he is not going to be “tracked” and he called Ponder a “crooked, sorry man.”
“I’m crooked?” Ponder replied. “Yes, you are,” Cox said, and Ponder told Cox to “take a look in the mirror.”
The gavel was banged numerous times and when it was asked why Cox was terminated, Ponder said it was because of insubordination and that town attorney Jason Pedraza, who left the meeting before the council emerged from executive session, recommended the vote.
Runyan also spoke up and said the council was doing Cox a total disservice, a statement that was greeted with applause from citizens.
“This guy has dedicated his life and his wife and children to this city,” Runyan said. “That is one reason why I voted no.”
When Jones made a motion to adjourn the meeting, a citizen cursed and said she did not care if the meeting was adjourned or not.
Ponder also said Cox once pulled him out of a meeting to sit in on a termination of an employee. He said the employee was fired and then told she had to be back in a patrol car in 15 minutes.
Cox said he tried his hardest.
“This is my town, this is my community,” he said. “I’d do anything for them. I just thank them for the opportunity and things need to change but not only at this level and I think the people everywhere need to stand up and do what’s right. Don’t be biased on one side or the other. You need to come in here for the benefit of the community because like I said, we’re here because of the public. The board’s here because of the public. Why don’t we ever listen to them?”
Earlier in the meeting, there was an agenda item by Ponder to discuss a list of things by Cox which were to make a spot for an animal control assistant, requiring the whole board to revoke access to cameras, making Runyan the police liaison instead of Jones and discussing false allegations against the police chief. No action was taken on these items.
There was a motion by Runyan to amend the animal control officer job description to lower the age from 18 to 21 as requested by Cox. Last month, Cox hired an 18-year-old woman for the position which the council nullified, saying he did not have the authority to hire and the job description set a minimum age of 21. The motion to amend the job description died due to a lack of a second.
Cox said that Ponder had asked him “to do all of this stuff” which prompted statements from citizens that Ponder was “twofaced.”
Cox thanked the citizens for their support and allowing him to serve them.
“You are the people,” Cox said. “Without you, there’s no reason for me. There’s no reason for them.”
Regarding the complaint from Ponder that he does not answer his phone, Cox said he answers his personal phone whenever someone calls.
“I always carry my personal phone because I have so many contacts in here,” he said. “It’s hard for me to go through my work phone. I have everybody here. Call my personal phone. I’ve always got it right here. You want to know why I stopped carrying my work phone? When they implemented the time clocks and they started tracking our every single move so they can use this stuff against us whether on duty or off.”
He said that during the tornado, he was standing under his carport and making sure his family was safe. He said no one called him.
Cox denied the allegation that he fired a police officer and said he does not have the authority to hire or fire.
“Everything has to go through a pre-termination hearing which means the board,” he said. “The board has the final say-so not me. The chief of police has no authority.”
Cox was named police chief on June 24, 2022, and he said he has brought in firing ranges and lowered the crime rate.
A citizen told Cox he has helped the community and helped the kids with his public service record.
“I’ve already had one gentleman quit and I’m not saying nothing now, but there may not be a department left,” Cox said. “I don’t wish this but here’s the deal: They think that they’re hurting me. Does it suck? Yes, but know I’m hurt because it affects you guys.”
During an emergency meeting the following morning, the council named Assistant Police Chief Steve Miller the interim chief.
