Bill Copeland

• 
  www.glenrosenewspaper.com/stories.mv?pageid=Somervell_C - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 8/23/2007    Last Visited: 1/21/2008  

  David Maxwell; DPS Trooper Todd Respondek; DPS Trooper Stephen Pierce; Wharton County Chief Deputy Bill Copeland; Wharton County Lt.

• 
  Abilene Reporter News: Local - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 11/11/2005    Last Visited: 11/11/2005  

  Billy Charles Copeland, 52, of Bangs, was in an SUV traveling south on Highway 279 about 12 miles north of Brownwood when his vehicle was rear-ended by a pickup, according to the DPS.
  ...
  According to DPS reports, Copeland's SUV overturned several times, and he was ejected from the vehicle.
  
  Justice of the Peace Bob Wall pronounced Copeland dead at the scene.The accident was reported at 7:20 p.m. Wednesday.
  
  DPS reports indicate Copeland was not wearing a seat belt.
  ...
  Copeland became Bangs' police chief in September 2003, succeeding James Williams.
  ...
  In April 2004, Copeland was fired by the Bangs City Council and faced charges in Brown County courts involving allegations of retaliation and official oppression.Those cases had not gone to trial.
  
  Prior to working in Bangs, Copeland had worked as a deputy at the Aransas County Sheriff's Department in Rockport since 2001.Prior to that Copeland worked as an investigator for the Zapata County Sheriff's Department.
  
  Funeral arrangements are pending at Davis-Morris Funeral Home in Brownwood.

• 
  Abilene Reporter News: Local - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 8/22/2003    Last Visited: 8/26/2003  

  BANGS - Billy Charles Copeland was hired as the new chief of police by the Bangs City Council Thursday night during a special meeting.
  
  The council had narrowed a list of 10 applicants to two, Copeland and Don Carmack, 48, currently the K-9 narcotics investigator for the Brown County Sheriff's Office.
  ...
  Copeland will leave his position as a civil process deputy for the Aransas County Sheriff's Office to take the position in Bangs.
  
  Copeland has served as an investigator and patrolman for the Zapata County Sheriff's Office and was an investigator at the Texas A&M campus in Laredo.He is a 1973 graduate of Kermit High School and is certified in juvenile law from Southwest Texas State University.
  
  Copeland replaces Chief James Williams, who resigned in July after allegations of mishandling of the city's credit card and the sale of guns and other equipment through the police department's Calendar Fund.
  ...
  Alexander said Copeland will be placed on a 90-day probationary period and at the end of that time, his performance will be evaluated.

• 
  Abilene Reporter News: Local - [Cached Version]
  Last Visited: 12/6/2003  

  Bangs Police Chief Bill Copeland testified Friday that he did not accept Nichols' resignation.
  
  Copeland said his decision had the support of most of the Bangs City Council.
  
  Nichols will continue to work as an officer for the Bangs Police Department, Copeland said.

• 
  Abilene Reporter News: Local - [Cached Version]
  Last Visited: 4/1/2004  

  The Texas Rangers are investigating complaints against Bangs Police Chief Bill Copeland.
  
  Last week, the Bangs City Council placed Copeland on paid administrative leave pending the investigation's outcome.
  ...
  Hanna is also investigating a complaint by Bangs Police Officer John Fincher that Copeland retaliated against him by relieving
  ...
  Copeland, who began work in Bangs in September, replaced Chief James Williams, who resigned in July after allegations surfaced over mishandling of the city's credit card and the sale of guns and other equipment.

• 
  April Archives - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/1/2004    Last Visited: 5/7/2004  

  A dismissal during the Bangs City Council meeting last night has put Bangs Police Chief Bill Copeland out of office.The Brownwood Bulletin reports Copeland wasn't present when city council members motioned to dismiss him based on "lost confidence."Copeland has been on paid leave since March 26th after a controversial arrest being investigated by Texas Rangers.The Bangs police department is now being run by two Bangs officers and three reserve officers.

• 
  Brownwood Bulletin - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 10/16/2004    Last Visited: 10/17/2004  

  Former Bangs Police Chief Bill Copeland was arrested Friday morning on two misdemeanor charges of official oppression and a felony charge of retaliation, authorities said.
  
  Copeland, 51, is accused of making an improper arrest when he was chief and then relieving a patrolman of duty after the officer expressed concerns over the validity of the arrest, according to court documents and interviews with law enforcement officials.
  
  Copeland, accompanied by Texas Ranger Nick Hanna, turned himself in to the Brown County Jail and was released on bonds after being booked, sheriff's officials said.
  ...
  Copeland, who was fired as the town's police chief in April and still lives in Bangs, could not be reached for comment.
  
  He was arrested on sealed indictments handed down on Oct. 7 by the Brown County Grand Jury.
  
  Copeland had been on the job for about six months when he directed patrolman John Fincher to arrest a man on March 12 in con-
  
  nection with the search for a missing teen, authorities have said.Police did not obtain an arrest warrant, and concerns were raised that Copeland had the man arrested without any probable cause.The teen was found unharmed, and authorities determined that the arrested person had nothing to do with the girl's disappearance.The man, who had been booked into jail on a charge of interfering with child custody, was released.
  
  Fincher claimed in a whistleblower's lawsuit against the city that Copeland ordered him to handcuff the man and take him to the Bangs Police Department.
  ...
  According to the lawsuit, Copeland ordered Fincher to "handcuff and transport" a man to the Bangs Police Department on March 12.
  ...
  At the police department, Copeland approached the man and questioned him, and Fincher saw Copeland "assault the handcuffed prisoner," the lawsuit claims.
  ...
  Hanna met with Copeland and Fincher on March 18, and then met with Copeland alone.
  ...
  Hanna told Copeland about the consequences of violating the Whistleblower Act and advised him against taking any action against Fincher, according to the suit.
  ...
  On March 23, Copeland directed Fincher to return to duty.
  ...
  Copeland was placed on paid leave by the Bangs City Council on March 26 and fired on April 13.
  ...
  Hanna also said then that authorities were investigating whether Copeland retaliated against Fincher.

• 
  Brownwood Bulletin - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 8/14/2003    Last Visited: 8/14/2003  

  Billy Charles Copeland, an Aransas County Sheriff's Office deputy and civil process server, also works with area youth as an Explorer Advisor.Copeland is a resident of Rockport and a 1973 graduate of Kermit High School.His past law enforcement experience includes tenures as a campus police officer for Texas A & M; DARE officer; jailer; TCLEOSE instructor; lake patrol/search and rescue; budgeting and grant writing; Crime Stoppers React team; and undercover drug investigations.Copeland also has extensive experience in oil field and drilling work throughout Texas.

• 
  Brownwood Bulletin - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/30/2004    Last Visited: 3/31/2004  

  Photo by Steve Nash -- Bangs police officer George Nichols is in charge of the department in the absence of Chief Bill Copeland.
  ...
  Nichols has unexpectedly found himself in charge of the department after city council members placed Chief Bill Copeland on paid leave Friday pending the outcome of an investigation.
  ...
  Council members have said they want to know if Copeland retaliated against officer John Fincher by relieving the officer of duty.
  ...
  In addition to Nichols and Copeland, the department consists of Fincher and three unpaid reserve officers.
  ...
  Nichols said if Copeland did retaliate against Fincher for talking to Hanna, "that was wrong."
  ...
  Copeland could not be reached Monday for comment.
  ...
  Nichols said Copeland has made positive changes in the department "as far as administrative matters."
  ...
  For example, Nichols said, Copeland has brought improvements in the department's paperwork and has helped obtain equipment including shotguns.
  ...
  When Copeland suspended Fincher on March 18, the chief ordered Nichols to drive Fincher home from City Hall and return with Fincher's patrol car.
  ...
  Nichols attended Friday night's rancorous council meeting, which was attended by about 50 residents, many of whom spoke out against Copeland and in favor of Fincher.

• 
  Brownwood Bulletin - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/28/2004    Last Visited: 3/29/2004  

  Chief Bill Copeland went into his office with several people including Mayor C.B. Alexander and closed the door after the meeting adjourned.
  ...
  Most, if not all, of the approximately 50 people who packed the small council chambers were hostile toward Copeland and supportive of officer John Fincher, who Copeland "relieved of duty" on March 18 and reinstated Wednesday.
  ...
  Most, if not all, of the approximately 50 people who packed the small council chambers were hostile toward Copeland and supportive of officer John Fincher, who Copeland "relieved of duty" on March 18 and reinstated Wednesday.
  ...
  Copeland was hired late last year to replace former Chief James Williams, who resigned.
  ...
  Council member Rita Barnes made the motion to place Copeland on paid leave, and council members Cox, Carter and Steven Fuqua joined her in voting for the action.
  ...
  Authorities searched for a missing juvenile girl, and Copeland arrested a man who was "arguably" connected with the incident, Wyatt said.
  ...
  On March 18, Wyatt told the council, Hanna, Fincher and Copeland met at City Hall.
  ...
  Copeland initially said he was not going to answer any questions or make any comments unless he had legal counsel.He also said the council needed to go into closed session before he would talk about Fincher, but the council showed no interest in doing so.
  
  Copeland did, however, speak briefly.
  ...
  Carter asked Copeland.
  ...
  Cox noted that Fincher "was the only officer we had . . . he took care of us" after Williams resigned and before Copeland was hired, and when the department's only other officer, George Nichols, was on administrative leave.
  ...
  Before Fincher had a chance to answer, Barnes said, "Because it was on (Copeland)."
  ...
  Anderson asked Copeland.
  ...
  "If you go into (closed) session I'll tell you what I know,"Copeland replied, drawing yells from the audience.
  
  Minutes later, Barnes abruptly made a motion to place both Copeland and Nichols, whom she referred to as "his chief deputy," on leave"until this is settled."
  
  Audience members responded with shouts and applause, and Cox seconded the motion."I have no idea why you're dragging (Nichols) into this," Copeland told the council.
  ...
  Alexander wrote in the letter that Copeland had indicated he'd "had it" with Fincher.
  ...
  "(Copeland) was relieved of his duties, the same as(Fincher) was," Barnes said after the meeting.

Page:  1 2