The Commerce Chief of Police has resigned under ambiguous circumstances. Jason Rector submitted his resignation to the city on Jan. 16, City Manager Darrek Farrell said.
“This is a personal decision that Chief Rector made without a great deal of elaboration or explanation,” Farrell said in a statement. “We respect his right to make decisions that are in his own interest and that of his family.”
A Jan. 19 article in the Commerce Journal made reference to “allegations” against Rector, but did not specify the nature of any allegations, the party or entity making any allegations, or the time any allegations were made.
Regarding speculation of misconduct by Rector, Farrell said “I can tell you that I received no allegations of incidents occurring within the past 30 days, which is the time allowed for a grievance within our personnel policies, that would have prohibited Chief Rector from continuing in his role. Beyond that I cannot comment on rumors or allegations of any misconduct not substantiated by an investigation,” Farrell said in a written statement on Jan. 19.
“There is currently no investigation regarding Chief Rector,” Farrell said on Monday.
The city made no announcement of Rector’s resignation and Farrell did not make a public statement on the matter until contacted by the Commerce Journal on Jan. 19.
Following Rector’s resignation, Farrell created a new position, Director of Public Safety, to oversee the city’s police and fire departments. Chris Bassham, previously the Commerce Fire Chief, moved into the new position immediately, Farrell said. Bassham is a Texas certified peace officer and holds a master peace officer’s license, Farrell said. Bassham has administered the Commerce Fire Department since Nov. 2016.
Farrell told the Commerce Journal that police and fire dispatch operations will be administered jointly under an Emergency Management Coordinator, Commerce Police Sgt. Kalei Beelitz. The city charter enables Farrell to revise the police and fire organizational flow charts and the City Council was advised of the changes, Farrell told the Commerce Journal.
Bassham has served in the Commerce Fire Department since 2010 and was a lieutenant before being promoted to chief. Bassham succeeded Jack Berni, who died as a result of illness in 2016 after having led the department since 2012.
Rector had been Chief of Police since May 2018. Before that, Rector had served as interim chief following the resignation of longtime police chief Kerry Crews in June 2017. Rector, a Commerce native, had been a patrol lieutenant for the Commerce Police Department for more than five years. Rector previously served for the Lavon Police Department from 1997 to 2013, and was Chief of Police for his last 10 years in Lavon.
