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A Texas community is riddled with more drama following the city council’s decision to fire their last police officer.
On Monday, the Hawkins City Council voted to terminate the last employee left in the Hawkins Police Department, Lt. Eric Tuma.
Tuma was dismissed for “dereliction of sworn duties” and “abandonment of post,” as stated in the council’s agenda meeting notes.
During the meeting, Hawkins Mayor Debbie Rushing said they’d received reports that Tuma had not been responding to calls, KLTV reported.
City of Hawkins, Texas, left without any police after last officer is fired. (Hawkins Police Department)
Rushing explained that the officers had not been validly employed because their appointments were not sanctioned by the city council, which resulted in Tuma being the department’s only officer.
“It’s incredible to me that there are still dedicated officers willing to serve in small towns to improve them, and we just need to restore things to how they were,” Rushing mentioned to KETK.
However, shortly after Rushing fired the three officers, the outlet reported she was arrested in May for allegedly “tampering with government records with intent to harm.”
Maloy also told KLTV that the city is currently facing 16 lawsuits, including many of those coming from former officers.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Mayor’s office and police department for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
