Staff report
For the second time in a year, Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett will be placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of an investigation of which he’s not the subject.
The Kyle City Council Tuesday gave authority to City Manager Scott Sellers to appoint Capt. Pedro Hernandez as acting Kyle Police Department Chief for purposes of adjudicating a civil service matter.
Hernandez’s appointment will become effective at 12:01 a.m. on the date following notification from investigator Chuck Edge that a “final investigative report regarding new allegations of misconduct by Jesse Espinoza has been completed,” according to the release.
Per the release, the timing of the matter will be determined as part of the ongoing litigation.
Hernandez will oversee day-to-day operations of the department until the investigation is concluded. He will also act as interim police chief until disciplinary action, if any, is taken as a result of findings of the investigation by Edge.
In May 2015, Barnett was placed on administrative leave as the city conducted its investigation of former Kyle Police Sgt. Jesse Espinoza.
Espinoza was put on indefinite suspension in May 2015. Espinoza appealed the suspension in September 2015, which led to an arbitration hearing.
No decision has been made at this time on the arbitration case.
