Turmoil has followed the reinstatement of a metro area police chief.
Odessa Police Chief Scott Newhouse was reinstated to his position Tuesday night after a special prosecutor determined there wasn't enough evidence to charge him with a crime.
As 41 Action News first reported last month, Newhouse was placed on paid leave after he was accused of intentionally shutting a car door on one of his police officers.
News of his reinstatement was met with criticism by some members of the community.
“All of a sudden because you hold a title means you can get away with things? That's not how it works," said James Bara, a father who lives in Odessa.
Aside from the chief’s reinstatement, many residents are fed up following discussions to possibly disband the city police force and instead use officers from the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office.
On Wednesday, a police officer who wanted to remain anonymous stated that two officers had already resigned following news of the chief’s reinstatement and possible disbandment.
Sergeant Chad Cobb, a 12-year veteran of the police force, told 41 Action News that he resigned due to questions he had about “morals and values” of city leaders.
The backlash from the community can now be seen on T-shirts, on Facebook, and on petitions.
At a budget meeting on Wednesday, a resident showed up wearing a “Back Our Blue” T-shirt to support the police force.
Supporter of Odessa police just showed up to meeting wearing "Back Our Blue" tshirt pic.twitter.com/zH6XgOvd58
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) August 17, 2016
A Facebook group with the same slogan has over 400 members, and a petition being passed around by a group of residents calling to retain the current police force will be presented to city leaders next Monday.
“I have no problem to continue to say to our mayor, 'We need our OPD. We back our blue,’" explained Melissa Bigler.
Multiple attempts to get comment from city leaders have been unsuccessful.
City Administrator Mickey Ary was asked questions about the police force issues twice outside a meeting on Wednesday. On both occasions, Ary refused to answer.
Based on his own request, the Odessa Board of Aldermen voted to not renew Newhouse's contract. It expires in November.
However, it's unclear if he might stay that long.
Sources told the 41 Action News Investigators Newhouse gathered all his belongings from the police department Tuesday night and told his officers he was done.
Odessa police are also investigating how several of its police cruisers had their tires slashed.
Some neighbors said the timing of the crime was suspicious, considering the crime happened after a meeting was held to talk about disbanding the force.
Odessa PD cars' tires slashed. Neighbors say timing of crime is suspicious after meeting on police contracting out pic.twitter.com/dZiUSzXLmz
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) August 17, 2016
“It shows to me that people know what's going on here,” said Bara. “The bad people start knowing."
Odessa city leaders are expected to once again talk about possibly disbanding the police force at a meeting on August 22.
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Andy Alcock can be reached at anderson.alcock@kshb.com.
