Interim DPS director retiring

What the hell is going on at the Department of Public Safety?

he director of the Texas Department of Public Safety is resigning amid allegations that he touched women at the agency in an unprofessional way, "demonstratively" blew kisses to one and called a veteran employee "his girl."

Col. Stanley Clark's resignation is effective May 31, but he will no longer be performing any duties at DPS, according to a spokeswoman.

Clark, 60, has led the agency since becoming interim director in September. He succeeded Col. Tommy Davis, who retired in the wake of a fire that severely damaged the Governor's Mansion on DPS' watch.

"This is an elite law enforcement agency. We expect all our employees to demonstrate the highest degree of professionalism," Allan Polunsky, chairman of the Texas Public Safety Commission, said in a statement. "The director must set the example for all employees in their workplace communications.

"Col. Clark has acknowledged his failure to adhere to those high standards and has chosen to retire at the end of this month," Polunsky said. "We are disappointed by this matter, and we are committed to moving on in our search for a director."

The story has more details; it's all very creepy. This guy was there on a temporary basis after the last guy was apparently forced out over DPS' failures to prevent or apprehend the person responsible for the fire that damaged the Governor's mansion in 2007. All I can say is I hope whoever they find via that national search knows what he or she is getting into. Grits has more.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on May 05, 2009 to The great state of Texas