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Local Police Chief Suspended After Arrest





BUCKHOLTS (July 11, 2012)--Buckholts Police Chief James Blackmon was suspended with pay for 60 days on Sunday after he was on misdemeanor charge of falsifying a government document.

After 60 days, a city spokesperson said the police chief could return to work, be permanently suspended or his suspension could be extended until the close of the investigation.

Officers representing the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education and Milam County deputies arrested Blackmon at around 4:15 on July 5 at the Buckholts Police Department on the warrant charging falsifying a government document, which is a Class A misdemeanor.

TCLEOSE, which is charged with certifying peace officers in the state, said they initiated the investigation that led to the arrest after receiving reports that Blackmon carried more than a dozen officers on his roster when there were only three actually working at the department.

The extra officers were listed as members of the town's police force so they could qualify to do private security jobs, according to TCLEOSE.

TCLEOSE said Blackmon has been a police officer for 24 years and 11 months and during that time has held 22 different jobs.

Blackmon was released from jail the same day of his arrest at around 10 p.m. after posting a $2,500 bond.