PINEHURST, Texas — Pinehurst city council members voted Tuesday night to suspend Police Chief and Interim City Manager Stephen Stroud after the Texas Municipal Police Association raised concerns about his leadership and potential conflicts of interest.

The council’s decision followed more than three hours of closed-door deliberations. Dozens of residents gathered at city hall awaiting word on Stroud’s future.

The police association accused Stroud of “pushing away officers” and argued that holding both positions, as police chief and interim city manager, created a conflict of interest.

In a statement to 12News, the association alleged Stroud engaged in “union busting tactics” and violated the collective bargaining agreement. The organization said about nine officers have left the departm

See Full Page