HOLLAND, Texas — At a city council meeting on Monday, Jan. 22, Holland city leaders voted four to one to fire the city's police chief over misuse of city property.
At a separate open meeting, former Holland Police Chief Shawn Newsom admitted to making 149 transactions on City debit cards that were not for city business, as well as misuse of city materials.
The issue arose after the mayor submitted a signed written complaint regarding Newsom and the misuse of city debit cards and materials.
Michael Guevara, Holland City Attorney, said the City determined that, as of now, the just shy of $13 thousand in city funds that were spent went towards feed, bedding and more for chickens and horses that the City does not own, as well as trailer tires for a trailer the City does not own.
"It was shocking, really, for the council members and the people that live here," Guevara said. "He was a police chief here for ten years and as far as police officers go and what he did out on the streets, he did really well."
Guevara said the transactions date back to 2021 and the City continues to cooperate with investigators with the Texas Rangers. There have been no charges brought against Newsom at this time.
At the meeting, the council named Roger Gauna as interim police chief, and Guevara said the council will likely make a move in the next week or two to determine if the City wants to hire a new full-time chief from within or go with a request for proposal.
"There's just a lot of trust that had been built up over ten years," Guevara said. "With that vote last night, four of the council members believed the best path forward for the City of Holland was to do that with a different police chief."
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