Port Arthur Police Chief Patrick Melvin responded to the police association’s recent vote of no confidence against him saying, in part, that he is a change agent police chief and was hired to bring about positive, productive accountability and professional change to the department.

But that change may not have been entirely well received by officers. On Monday, the Port Arthur Police Association released the results from a no confidence vote and revealed over 80 percent of their members had no confidence in the chief.

The vote of no confidence doesn’t mean Melvin is terminated from his position. The police chief serves at the discretion of the city manager.

Still, Melvin defended his year-old legacy.

Change, he said, can be uncomfortable and there has been a progressive change for the good of the community and department since he was appointed in September 2016.

Melvin cited several examples of positive, productive and progressive changes.

“I am confident, and I would argue I have some of the best officers on my department in Southeast Texas,” Melvin said in a letter. “This was evident during the recent catastrophe of Hurricane Harvey as our city experienced no looting, major thefts or major crimes.”

He deputized more than 100 officers and deputies from the state of Louisiana, combined with the assistance of the Texas Rangers and Department of Public Safety, and worked together to make the community safe.

Melvin also changed the way command staff was promoted and the department joined membership with the National Accreditation Process with the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies thus updating police directives and policies.

“I look forward to working with the Police Association and addressing the concerns of the PAPA together now that I know what their concerns are,” he said.

Their concerns are with Melvin’s leadership style, which they claim resulted in approximately 25 members of the department leaving since he was hired. Many of those who left were long time officers and supervisors with years of experience.

“A significant void in leadership occurred as a direct result of Chief Melvin’s leadership style and philosophy,” a letter from the association stated. “That void in management was filled with persons that lacked leadership experience. The result has been a further decline in the number of officers and deterioration of morale among the officers that remain.”

The association also believes that the lack of leadership and experience in the department was obvious during the response to Tropical Storm Harvey.

In addition, they claim the city, under Melvin’s leadership, has experienced more litigation than any other time in the department’s history resulting in thousands of dollars in legal fees.

While the executive board of the association said they welcome the opportunity to discuss the direction of the department and these “series issues” in detail with city council and/or city management, it is not up to the city council to make a final decision.

Mayor Pro Tem Cal Jones said he hadn’t heard anything from the city manager Brian McDougal as of Tuesday afternoon (prior to that night’s meeting) but is willing to give the association a listening ear.

Councilmember Harold Doucet, knew that the police association had taken a vote pertaining to the chief and administration but hadn’t been told what the association’s specific concerns were.

The police chief, he said, is an employee of the city and the city manager is the person who disciplines, hires and fires, not the city council. Council may advise the city manager of their thoughts on the matter but the final word is the city managers.

McDougal, likewise, is agreeable to a meeting.

“We look forward to meeting with the association and talking in greater detail,” McDougal said.