TEXAS CITY – The authority of the Texas City Police Department is being questioned by the Texas City Municipal Police Association (TCMPA) as an inmate of the Texas City jail escaped on Thursday, May 22nd. This incident was allegedly caused by a faulty door and the absence of adequate security personnel at the facility during the escape. The door through which the inmate escaped has allegedly been damaged for over three months, an issue the association says was documented multiple times by jailers’ daily reports to higher-up officials.
Typically, when both doors between the cells and outside are left unlatched, an alarm would sound; however, due to the primary door being damaged, the safety interlock system was overridden and ceased operation. At the time of the incident, the secondary door was inadvertently left ajar, allowing the inmate to walk directly out of the facility. The Texas City jail has been reportedly experiencing staffing shortages, resulting in only one jailer being present at the facility at the time of the escape.
Although the inmate was found and taken into custody by a nearby agency, concerns for the safety of citizens in Texas City remains an issue being discussed by the association. TCMPA referred to this incident as a “direct compromise of security” by stating, “Failing to repair a known critical security feature or even notify supervisors of the danger is not just negligence; it’s a violation of Texas Jail Standards and a risk that should have demanded immediate correction.”
The authority of civilian jail supervisor Donald Head, Assistant Chief Manuel Johnson, and Police Chief Landis Cravens is being questioned by the association, as they say the incident was preventable, had action had been taken to repair the door promptly. This is not the first incident involving Texas City Police leadership, as there have been other reports of safety hazards, operational mismanagement, and a lack of accountability within the administration.
Another concern, referenced by the association, is an alleged pattern of personal relationships leading individuals to be placed in advanced positions within police leadership. The association claimed Civilian jail supervisor Donald Head is known to be a close acquaintance of Chief Cravens, and Head was appointed to his supervisor role shortly after Cravens acquired his role as Police Chief. The TCMPA has referred to this as “…just one example of a troubling pattern in Texas City leadership: personal relationships taking priority over qualifications and accountability.”
Many officers have recently resigned or retired from their roles, and with more scheduled for this month, the TCMPA questions whether or not these issues of authority are leading to officers’ departures.
An internal investigation into the events that occurred on May 22nd is actively taking place. However, both officers and members of the association have voiced concerns about the integrity of the investigation, as it is being completed by the individuals involved in the incident themselves.
TCMPA President Rachael Spahr shared her thoughts in a recent press release, stating, “The citizens of Texas City deserve leadership that prioritizes safety, integrity, and responsibility over personal alliances. The time for excuses is over. The time for real change is now.”
Editor’s Note: Before this story’s release, we reached out to TCPD for comment, but had not received a response by the deadline. Chief Cravens contacted us after publication, indicating he would provide a statement regarding the matter. We are still awaiting comment.
