The City of Lubbock on Friday released the demotion letter that City Manager James Loomis provided to Police Chief Roger Ellis.  

The letter was dated June 26, and the open records request to see it was also made on June 26.  The letter does not say much about the reason for demoting Ellis.

In the days prior to Ellis losing his job as chief, questions had been raised about the Mark Ysasaga murder investigation.  Written evidence indicates a police report was deleted so that it would not be turned over in an open records request.  And the U.S. Department of Justice threatened to sue Lubbock for allegations of discrimination in police hiring practices.

None of those events were mentioned in the demotion letter.

In part, the demotion letter said, “Given recent events, I believe a new direction of leadership is required for the Lubbock Police Department.”

“You are hereby demoted effective immediately from the rank of Police Chief to the rank of Police Captain,” it said.

Ellis chose to retire.  A written statement from Loomis on June 26 said Jerry Brewer was named as Acting Police Chief.  There are plans to name him as the Interim Chief until a permanent replacement for Ellis can be chosen. 

One day before the demotion, Assistant Chief James Shavers, who oversaw the Ysasaga investigation, was reassigned. 

The full text of the demotion letter is copied below:

City of Lubbock 
Office of the City Manager 

DATE June 26, 2015
TO Roger Ellis, Chief of Police
FROM James Loomis, City Manager
COPIES Chad Weaver, City Attorney Leisa Hutcheson, Director of Human Resources
SUBJECT Involuntary Demotion from position of Police Chief

As the City Manager of the City of Lubbock, it is my responsibility to assure that the Lubbock Police Department has the right leadership at the right time. Given recent events, I believe a new direction of leadership is required for the Lubbock Police Department.

You are hereby demoted effective immediately from the rank of Police Chief to the rank of Police Captain, in accordance with V.T.C.A. Local Government Code, Section 143.013.