NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — The City of North Richland Hills is responding in detail to allegations of discrimination in the hiring of its police chief, firmly denying the claims and outlining the selection process used to fill the position.
City Manager Paulette Hartman issued a lengthy statement addressing accusations made by former City Councilman Blake Vaughn, calling the allegations serious but false and emphasizing that the process was thorough, structured, and based solely on qualifications.
Hartman explained that under the city’s council-manager form of government, the city manager is solely responsible for hiring department heads, including the police chief.
According to the statement, the hiring process began with internal outreach, including surveys and meetings with police officers, dispatchers, and administrative staff to gather input on the leadership qualities they wanted in the next chief.
The city also partnered with Strategic Government Resources, a nationally recognized recruitment firm, to conduct a broad search that attracted applicants from across Texas. After reviewing qualifications, experience, and conducting preliminary interviews, the field was narrowed to three finalists:
- Shane Jennings, Assistant Police Chief in Flower Mound
- Carrie White, Police Chief of Forney and former NRH Assistant Chief
- Jeff Garner, a longtime NRH officer who ultimately was selected for the role
Each finalist participated in an extensive, multi-day, in-person evaluation process. This included interviews with various North Richland Hills Police Department employee groups, a meet-and-greet with City Council members and department directors, and a final panel interview.
The final panel included Hartman, two assistant city managers, Fire Chief Stan Tinney, then-Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes, a representative from the recruitment firm, and the city’s human resources director.
Hartman said City Council members attended the meet-and-greet and provided feedback afterward but did not direct or influence the hiring decision. She emphasized that no council member raised issues related to any candidate’s sexual orientation or expressed a preference for a specific candidate.
“If conversations related to the sexual orientation or age of any of the finalists took place, I was not aware of those conversations and not one person shared with me anything related to that topic,” Hartman said.
She added that the final decision to hire Jeff Garner was based on his career experience within the department and his vision for its future, along with feedback gathered throughout the process.
Hartman also defended the qualifications and reputation of the other finalist, Carrie White, noting her long tenure with the NRH Police Department and her current leadership role in Forney, where she is regarded as a successful and respected chief.
In addressing the broader claims, Hartman said any suggestion that factors other than professional qualifications influenced the hiring decision is incorrect.
She also pointed to department performance under Garner’s leadership, citing reductions in crime, increased traffic enforcement, improved staffing levels, and strengthened partnerships with Birdville ISD as indicators of effective leadership.
Hartman described the allegations as an attempt to damage the reputation of the city, the police department, and its leadership.
“As City Manager, I could not allow the serious allegations about the hiring practices of the City to go unanswered,” she said.
The city reiterated that hiring decisions are based on qualifications, experience, and professionalism, and said it remains committed to maintaining high standards in municipal government operations.
