Beeville Clears Ex-Police Chief After Misconduct Review

The former Beeville police chief says he will not return to the department, even after city officials confirmed the investigation cleared him of the misconduct allegation that led to his 2025 termination. The decision closes a contentious chapter for both the city and the veteran law enforcement officer, while raising broader questions about leadership transitions and accountability in small-city policing.

City officials announced in a public statement posted to the city’s official Facebook page that they rescinded Kevin Behr’s termination and accepted his voluntary resignation. The move followed a comprehensive review of an independent investigation conducted by Work Shield, a third-party firm hired to examine the complaint.

According to city records, Beeville contracted Work Shield after receiving a misconduct complaint against Behr from a department staff member. The investigation began months before Behr’s dismissal. While the city did not disclose specific findings or details of how the complaint was resolved, officials stated that the review process concluded with Behr being cleared of the allegations.

As a result, the city formally reversed his termination and reclassified his departure as a voluntary resignation. City leaders emphasized that the decision followed a thorough and impartial evaluation of the investigation’s conclusions.

In an interview, Behr denied allegations that he made inappropriate comments or engaged in improper behavior while serving as police chief. He said the accusations, which he described as unfounded, came from a single staff member.

Behr explained that city officials terminated him after he refused to resign, several months after the complaint surfaced. As of early January, the city had not released a copy of the complaint to the newspaper.

“The investigation never substantiated the complaint,” Behr said, adding that its findings supported his position.

Following Behr’s departure, the city appointed Ryan Treviño as interim police chief to maintain continuity within the department. Meanwhile, Behr chose not to file a lawsuit against the city. Instead, he submitted a job discrimination claim to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Behr said the matter was later resolved through an out-of-court settlement. Although the city did not publicly address the settlement terms, the agreement effectively closed the dispute without further litigation.

Notably, Behr said the department never offered to reinstate him—either before or after the investigation concluded. However, he made clear that returning to the position was never his goal.

Despite the circumstances surrounding his exit, Behr expressed pride in his three-year tenure as police chief. He credited his leadership with stabilizing the department and implementing meaningful reforms. Among his accomplishments, he cited fully staffing the department, improving officer pay, upgrading police vehicles, and rewriting the general orders manual.

“In my opinion, I made an excellent impact in my three years,” Behr said. “I helped build it into an excellent agency.”

Rather than revisiting the past, Behr said he intends to move forward. With 35 years of law enforcement experience—including service in Austin and Houston before returning to his hometown—he plans to apply his expertise to new professional pursuits. He also confirmed plans to run for Bee County judge next year.

“Leaving the police department was not a problem for me,” he said. “I want to move on.”

The Beeville city manager did not immediately respond to requests for comment because city offices were closed for the holidays when the inquiry was made. Still, the city’s announcement signals an effort to provide closure and clarify the outcome of a high-profile personnel matter.

As Behr transitions to the next phase of his career, the episode underscores the lasting impact of internal investigations—and the importance of transparency and due process in public service leadership.