JASPER, Texas — A Jasper council member and the current interim Jasper Police Chief have resigned less than 24 hours after a new police chief was chosen.
Following several meetings over the last few weeks, the Jasper City Council voted to approve a new chief Tuesday night.
Jasper officer Lt. Garrett Foster was chosen in a 4 – 0, with one council member not voting.
Just before the vote was announced, District One councilmember Marcus Barber left the meeting without voting. Barber told 12News that he didn't agree that Foster was the best fit for the job and that he planned to resign.
"It boils down to you being that person that I know I can come to, I know you're going to tell me the truth. You need somebody that's going to do the job on both sides of the law not just one side," Barber said.
Barber told 12News Tuesday night that he didn't agree that Foster was the best fit for the job.
District One Councilmember Barber also submitted his resignation on Wednesday morning.
“After last night's decision by the City Council and with all the issues happening with this council,” Barber wrote, “I can no longer be a part of Jasper City Council who just want to argue about everything that does not go their way.”
Council members had narrowed their search down to three candidates, interim chief Mike Poindexter, Lieutenant Joshua Hadnot and Foster.
Jasper Mayor Anderson Land told 12News that while all three candidates were good he did believe the four council members who voted had been influenced.
Mayor Land said the transition would have been smoother if Poindexter had been given the job.
“What I have to do is make sure we keep this city together, whoever that council voted on,” Land said. “I didn't have a vote.”
The police department has been under scrutiny since the killing of 67-year-old Elvin Land in June 2024. Many in the community called for a change in leadership.
Foster told 12News that as the new chief he's focused on transparency and communication.
"My main goal is to build and strengthen the community and the department. The trust between the community and department build that relationship between them, being open honest, accountability, transparent and everything," Foster said.
Both councilmembers Angel McCroskey and Lequin Hilderbrand voted in favor of Foster and stand by their decision.
"Their records weren't perfect but they were all great candidates. I have heard from scores of people for weeks that a heavy majority of those people were in heavy support and advocated for Foster. He does know the business, it's in his DNA. The fact that they resigned, I respect everyone's decision, because we can only do what we think is best for us," said Hilderbrand.
While they may be divided on the decision, Mayor Land and Councilman Hilderbrand do agree that Foster will have to prove himself.
On Wednesday morning, November 13, 2024, interim Jasper Police Chief Mike Poindexter, who was also a finalist for the job, also submitted his resignation.
In his resignation letter Poindexter said he could not continue to “serve in any capacity” with the police department.
“I cannot work for an individual who I do not find trustworthy or believe has the Department or City's best interest at hand,” Poindexter wrote.
Poindexter, in his letter, went on to describe an incident involving an assault committed by an off-duty officer. He alleged that after the incident was reported to Foster, he did nothing about it and denied knowledge of it when Poindexter asked him about it later.
He went on to write that on November 6, 2024, he had reported the incident and his findings to the mayor and council and told them he believed the officer and Foster should be disciplined. 12News has reached out to Jasper PD for any corresponding documents to corroborate the alleged incident.
Foster's swearing in date hasn't been set yet.