Reno said he and Newton had only one conversation about the racial makeup of the police force and he told the mayor: I dont hire off race, I hire off qualifications.. When he was released, the young mayor posted security-camera videos on Facebook that appear to show Reno leaving the mayors office and calmly closing the door on his way out. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 when the two got into a verbal dispute. My grandmother always used to say, The more things change, the more they stay the same, and unfortunately were starting to see the ugly head of the old Tarrant reared itself., Newton said there were no black officers on the force when he took office. Freddie Rubio, the city attorney of Tarrant, declined to comment on any formal complaints of harassment against Mayor Newton, and did not respond to a subsequent request for comment about whether procedures had been followed in firing employees. The incident was caught on camera. But its the people that hold office in Tarrant thats keeping him from moving forward., She called out the longest-serving councilman, Tommy Bryant, in particular. The mayor in April fired Tarrant Fire Chief Jason Rickels, a month after Rickels was arrested in Georgia on assault and other charges after he allegedly pulled a gun on an Atlanta realtor and her photographer at a property he owns there. Reminds me of Adolf Hitler., Bryant has served as a councilman for 12 years, and said hes lived in Tarrant for most of his life. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. A veteran lawman has been chosen as the first Black police chief in Tarrant. I was trying to piss him off to see if hed come after me, Bryant said. Newton denied harassing any city employees. Newton, he said, has been a boon to the city because he recognizes its potential. Major replaces former Chief Dennis Reno, who left the position in November 2020 after a run-in with Newton. The fire department is also short two firefighters and neither department has a chief at this time. Meanwhile, white drivers made up about 30 percent of stops in 2019, and 27 percent of stops in 2020, numbers that are a bit lower than their 34 percent share of the population. Bryant, who is white, also said his opposition to Newton has nothing to do with his race but rather stemmed from Newton trampling on the established ways of doing things and instilling a culture of fear among current and city employees because of his temper. 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Wendell Major has been chosen as the first Black police chief in Tarrant. Job Opportunities Currently hiring APOST Certified Officers at jobsquest.org Click any thumbnail image to view a slideshow Police Contact Information Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. Im glad that we can finally put that behind me.. But Reno said he has his own video of the incident and it shows the door being slammed on his elbow. Ft Worth Tarrant County Texas Arrests, Warrants & Most Wanted. The former chief said thats what started the verbal altercation. Laura Horton, 73, who served on the city council for 20 years before losing her re-election bid in 2020, echoed Bryants assessment of Newton. Major has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years, beginning his career with the Georgia Department of Corrections. Tarrant County /QuickLinks.aspx. Country: United States Address 1: 2593 Commerce Cir City: Tarrant State: Alabama Zip Code: 35217-2352 County: Jefferson County Phone #: 205-849-2811 Fax #: 205-849-2807. During the meeting, Newton said, he confronted Renowho was still chief at the timeover what the mayor claimed was a longstanding practice of not hiring Black police officers in the city. And so this opportunity and burden has been placed on me and I fully expect to rise to the occasion and face the day.. The Black 41-year-old claimed the mayor has also made other positive changes in the city, such as starting a farmers market, providing greater access to the community center, and feeding the poorest city residents. Phone: 817-249-1610. The city of Tarrant considers these actions absolutely irresponsible and reckless, Newton said in a statement announcing Rickelss termination. Newton was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of third-degree assault. Newton said the discord has continued. And Mayor Newton is trying to correct the things that had been so bad about the city of Tarrant from the previous administrationlike not having Black officers.. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Bryant pushed back against any problems with race that the city and police department may have faced in the past. We appreciate the community's help in keeping everyone safe. 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He supports Newton, does not believe the assault claim, and said he believes the real issue has to do with the changing demographics of the city over the past 30 years, which is now largely minority but was once predominantly white. PA - Feb 06, 2023. He said four of those officers are Black, and that all were hired after Reno resigned from his position as chief of police on Jan. 1. Reno claimed he was injured when Newton slammed a door on him. Newton on Thursday said Majors record of service proves hes the right man for the job and said he looks forward to having him as the departments chief. 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(Newton said the reason the city doesnt have a clerk or police chief is because Bryant and other holdover council members have opposed his choices and instead want to install someone sympathetic to them.). Fax: 817-249-4803. Newton, elected in 2020 as the citys first Black mayor, is charged with third-degree assault of former Chief Dennis Reno. 205-849-2811. I only worked for him for two hours. During his time as chief, Reno said he had a panel of three that recommend the hiring of officers, so he denies any claim that he had any discriminatory hiring practices. The mayor is accused of slamming a door on Reno, causing an injury to Renos shoulder that may require surgery. Download original document: Document text This text is machine-read, and may contain errors. The visits at Tarrant City Jail take place on Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm. My thing is, I was elected to run the city. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He never gave me a chance.', Reno said he told Newton during the only conversation they had about the racial makeup of the police force was, I dont hire off race, I hire off qualifications.. Regular Council Meetings are held Every 1st and 3rd Monday's of each month @ 7PM. We are committed to making our community a safe place to live, work, and visit. It is his goal to lead in an environment that fosters mutual respect and understanding, reflective of the professional standards expected from those he serves. Nearby homes similar to 201 N Tarrant St have recently sold between $367K to $367K at an average of $180 per square foot. He cited a Facebook page called Whats Really Happening in the New Tarrant, as a source for much of the trouble. There was a verbal disagreement about this between myself and Mr. Reno in my office on November 3, 2020, in which Mr. Reno is alleging that I slammed his arm in a door. Contact the City; Licenses; I Want To. He returned to Birmingham to practice law, specializing in real estate. He aint going to cuss me. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton has released video of an incident that led to the former police chief filing a misdemeanor assault charge against the mayor. All rights reserved (About Us). Newton, an attorney and Tarrants first Black mayor, is accused of slamming a door on Reno, causing an injury to Renos shoulder that may require surgery. I actually question the legitimacy of those numbers like I question the legitimacy of the hiring practices of the previous police chief, he added. Newton, elected in 2020 as the citys first Black mayor, was arrested June 16, 2021, on the third-degree assault lodged by former police Chief Dennis Reno. Reno did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this story. So, the guy didnt know what he was talking about.. The former police chief of Tarrant, Dennis Reno, was unwilling to stop the discriminatory practice of not hiring African American officers, which under my administration is unacceptable, said Newton. Copyright All rights reserved. In an interview, the mayor denied ever slamming the door on Renos arm. At a certain point, I had to remind him that I was the mayor and kicked him out of my office, he told The Daily Beast. Those figures are only slightly higher than the 53 percent of the population Black folks make up, according to recent census records. As Marshal Granger approached the man's home, the man opened fire with a 16 gauge shotgun. Staff Login X Reno believes Newton is making the issue about something that its not. But he said people like Bryant and Reno are, in effect, stuck in the past: Theyre longing for a time that was., Got a tip? Joel Kimbrough, who is white, has lived in Tarrant his whole life and owns a printing business there. Newton said the opposition reached its apex last week, when Dennis Reno, the white former chief of police in Tarrant, accused the mayor of assaulting him during a conversation in Newton's.