Cuney hires new chief

by Cristin Parker cristin@thecherokeean.com

Cuney Police Department has a new chief at the helm.

Cuney City Council approved appointing CPD Officer Dr. Allen Richardson to the police chief’s position, during a city council meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 21.

Richardson, who lists a Dallas address as his residence, has been in law enforcement since 2014. He started as a reserve officer in Cuney in November 2015 and has served as the CPD’s Sergeant of Patrol and Warrant Division since June 2016.

He’s also worked with the Coffee City and Cedar Valley PDs, the Howard and Knox County Sheriff’s offices.

“I’m very pleased with this move,” Richardson said. “I appreciate the Council’s decision and I feel confident we can get moving in the right direction again.

“I’m not out to reinvent the wheel – it’s going to be business as usual as much as possible, and all I see is us going up from this point.”

Richardson is a doctor of philosophy and theology and earned a bachelor of arts in May 2002 from Tarleton State University. He is also certified in field training, police mental health practices

The city of Cuney had been without an official police chief since the Council opted to terminate former Police Chief Gregory Sinkfield on July 31. Sinkfield was arrested and indicted twice since the beginning of the year – in February for two counts of felony tampering with government records – defraud/harm in Gregg County; and in May for state jail felony charges of engaging in organized criminal activity gambling probation in Cherokee County.

During the special emergency meeting held on July 31, the Council voted it was “in the best interest if the city of Cuney and Police Chief Gregory Sinkfield to “part ways.”

The council thanked Sinkfield, who was not present for the meeting, for his service and wished him well.

During a meeting held in May, council members had voted to put Sinkfield on part time and limiting his job to desk duty only.

In a related matter, Council members on Wednesday decided to leave empty the seat left vacant by former Mayor Jessie Johnson, who resigned from the position in May as a result of the decision to keep Sinkfield on part time duty.

The Council is not seeking to fill the empty seat until the next regular election, according to city officials. Mayor Pro tem Tammey Lewis will act in the capacity of mayor during council meetings until the position is filled again.

Cuney City Council also on Wednesday continued the 2019-20 budget process; and approved support of a State Highway 175 Beautification program.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the beautification program can call Ashley at City Hall, (903) 876-2655.