Chief asks for Texas Rangers probe into alleged threats against him

Published 6:49 pm Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Port Arthur Police Chief Patrick Melvin says Sgt. Chris Billiot’s comments at a Port Arthur Police Association meeting — Billiot is a board member — posed a threat to him and the second-year chief wants the Texas Rangers to investigate.

But city of Port Arthur officials had no comment on the situation Tuesday and the union denies any wrongdoing.

An undated memo from Melvin to interim city manager Harvey Robinson, city attorney Val Tizeno and assistant city attorney Gaylyn Cooper asks for a formal investigation for threat of bodily harm to a public official.

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Councilman Willie “Bae” Lewis shared a copy of the memo with The Port Arthur News on Tuesday.

The alleged incident occurred around 7 p.m. Thursday at the Carl Parker Center during a Police Association meeting by a union executive board member.

In the memo, Melvin cited a warning from an unidentified person who purportedly wrote:

“Chief, I’m sure you are aware but I wanted to make sure that you knew about the threat that was heard at the latest union meeting. Sgt. Chris Billiot told everyone in the meeting that they should keep pressing forward and the ‘Chief is bleeding and we should step on his neck and cut his head off.’ I viewed this as a threat and illegal.’”

The memo’s final paragraph, apparently written by the chief, said Melvin too views the situation as threatening and fears for the safety of his family.

He then requested the Texas Rangers conduct an investigation into the credibility of the threat.

Robinson and Melvin declined comment on the allegations and the memo’s validity.

Lewis said he feels the officer should be reprimanded and the issue should be investigated.

“He (Billiot) is a sworn officer whose salary is paid for with taxpayer money and to make these kinds of comments, this needs to be dealt with,” Lewis said. “This is not good public relations and the union body should consider reprimanding him.”

Lewis said the council chose to put the chief in place after a committee recommendation and believes the alleged threats go against the wishes of the City Council and the committee that supported Melvin.

Lance Bradley, attorney for the Port Arthur Police Association, provided a statement at the Port Arthur News’ request:

“On behalf of the Port Arthur Police Association, I can assure you that no member of the union executive board made a threat to physically harm Chief Melvin or his family, or anyone else for that matter,” Bradley said in the statement. “Anyone that says anything to the contrary is simply attempting to create a news story where none exists or has totally misinterpreted comments that were made in an attempt to garner support or sympathy. Although it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars, the PAPA welcomes a Texas Rangers investigation into what is a non issue.”

A rocky relationship exists between Melvin, who was appointed to the position in September 2016, and some officers in the department. Since Melvin has been chief a number of officers have left the department, were fired or retired, some of who filed lawsuits against the city. Conversely, some officers have climbed the ranks and were promoted.

In November, the PAPA issued a vote of no confidence against Melvin, claiming mismanagement and leadership issues. In December, Melvin was named one of six finalists for the police commissioner job in St. Louis, Missouri.

While he scored well in his quest for the St. Louis job, he did not get the job. He said he was flattered to be considered for the position but he plans to stay in his position in Port Arthur.