The Mustang Ridge City Council quietly made a big move Tuesday night, voting unanimously to remove Police Chief Rolando Belmares after a closed-door personnel hearing. The decision followed a complaint over how an officer's timecard was handled and a broader look at the police department's performance. Captain Tammy McCleney was selected to run the department on an interim basis.
What The Agenda Shows
The city's posted special-meeting agenda said council members would head into executive session to hear a complaint accusing someone of deleting a significant number of hours from an officer's timecard without that employee's consent and to consider the officer's retention, reassignment, discipline, or dismissal, according to the City of Mustang Ridge. The agenda also called for an evaluation of the chief's overall performance and a discussion of the department's personnel needs. It was posted by the city ahead of the Dec. 2 meeting.
Local Reporting And A Council Quote
According to local reporting by CBS Austin, the council emerged from the closed session and voted unanimously to remove Belmares. City Attorney Weslie Ritchie told the station, "It was a unanimous vote to make a change so read into that what you want." The outlet also reported that Captain Tammy McCleney will serve as interim police chief and that its reporters were unable to reach the mayor, councilmembers, or Mustang Ridge Police for comment.
Residents Want Answers
Neighbors told CBS Austin they are looking for more clarity on what triggered the shakeup. One resident, August Ench, said he did not have enough public information to judge the council's decision, adding, "It'd be good to know more."
Why The City Met In Private
The agenda cited the personnel exception in the Texas Open Meetings Act, which allows government bodies to go into executive session to discuss employee evaluations, discipline, and similar matters. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 551, that kind of personnel deliberation can take place in private, although any formal action must be taken in public and certain records must still be kept.
What Comes Next
Council members did not share additional details in public at the meeting, and the city had not posted minutes or a statement on its City of Mustang Ridge meeting page as of Wednesday night. The dismissal is now the official action of the council, and residents and watchdogs will likely be watching for any follow-up disclosures, records requests, or personnel updates in the days ahead.
