City official arrested

Police say Hawkins helped cover up theft of city funds from former employer

Published Thursday, May 8, 2008

By Chris Butler

Officials in Rhome have more bad publicity to contend with after police in Denton County arrested the new city manager less than two months after she accepted the job.

Police in the Denton County city of Oak Point arrested Rhome City Administrator Jennifer Hawkins last week on misdemeanor charges of abusing her previous job as that city's administrative services coordinator.

According to her arrest affidavit, Hawkins admitted to Oak Point police that she knew former City Manager Richard Martin had made $758 in charges to that city's credit card without submitting appropriate receipts. She also told police that she knew Martin had taken $314 from the city's petty cash box for personal expenses and did not replace the cash. Hawkins "advised Martin to replace the cash with cash rather than a check to avoid raising suspicions," the affidavit said.

Hawkins admitted to police that she knew Martin's actions were improper and she tried to cover up what happened to protect him. Martin admitted to police that he had used city funds for personal expenses. He also told police that he and Hawkins had an intimate relationship that began last summer and ended earlier this spring, the affidavit said.

Martin took the money during a period of several months, from August of last year until last month, the affidavit said. Hawkins told police that she and Martin were the only two people who had access to the city's petty cash box, according to the affidavit.

As administrative services coordinator, Hawkins was responsible for maintaining the financial records of the city of Oak Point, as well as the city's bookkeeping and banking records.

Hawkins' role as city administrator gives her access to city funds, said Mayor Mark Lorance, adding he has placed her on paid administrative leave until a council meeting that had already been scheduled for Thursday night. Hawkins won't have access to city funds as long as she's on administrative leave. Lorance and city council members will gather in executive session at Thursday's meeting and hear her version of events, he said.

"She'll enlighten us on what happened, and the council will make a decision on how to move forward," he added.

A "squeaky-clean" background

Members of the Rhome City Council who were present voted unanimously in March in favor of hiring Hawkins as the city's first city administrator. Council member Brandon Davis was absent at the time of the vote.

Lorance said members of the council "love the work" Hawkins has done so far and want to go into Thursday's meeting with an open mind. He also said a background check on her turned up nothing negative.

"Everything on her background was squeaky-clean, and right now we're just disappointed. I have been trying for four years to get a city administrator and one hits the ground running and then this happens," Lorance said.

Hawkins informed the other five members of the city council of her arrest shortly after it happened, he added.

"Everyone on the council has been supportive but cautious because we're interested in knowing what's going on in Oak Point. We'll see Thursday night whether we have a reason to change directions," Lorance said.

Council member Brandon Davis said he won't make any judgments until he knows more about the situation.

"Without being able to investigate what happened, I don't see that she's done anything wrong yet. You have to look at the whole thing in the totality of the circumstances. Until I see substantial evidence that she did something wrong, then I'm inclined to believe that she's innocent," Davis said.

Hawkins said she's innocent of the charges and can make the case to council members that she should continue as city administrator.

"We're just going to sit down and go over what's happened and make sure the council still has a good comfort level with me. I feel very comfortable saying that everything is going to work out well. I appreciate the council standing up for me, and they won't be sorry they did," Hawkins said.

According to Hawkins' resume, Oak Point had employed her from 2005 until this year as its finance director, human resources director and as an assistant to the city manager. She resigned from that position earlier this year. Hawkins has a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree in emergency administration and planning, both from the University of North Texas.

Hawkins would not comment on the details of her case, including why she resigned her position in Oak Point last month.

The council hired Hawkins soon after Lorance suggested that Rhome needs a city administrator to supervise city staff members and manage personnel problems. Members of the council argued extensively with one another earlier this year about the ways city personnel have hired city employees.

About 20 people from across the state applied for the job, and Lorance said Hawkins "stood out" from the others because she had strong credentials in emergency management, finance and how best to keep council members informed of what was happening with city government.

"She had the credentials, the education and the experience to back it all up," Lorance said.

If council members aren't satisfied with Hawkins' version of events, then three council members' votes are needed to fire her with cause. Four council members' votes are required to fire her in a vote of no confidence and no cause is needed, Lorance said.

Hawkins said she "feels horrible" that her arrest has hurt Rhome's reputation.

Lorance said he wanted to apologize to the residents of Rhome for the latest episode of bad publicity.

"If she has a perfectly good explanation and the council moves forward, then the council still has a long ways to go in terms of building back the public trust," he said.