ATHENS —  SEVEN POINTS – Veteran police officer Curt Koger, 47, has been named this city’s  new police chief, just one day after Mayor Joe Dobbs accepted Chief Jack Nelson’s resignation.

Nelson resigned amidst allegations that he had made a sexual and racial slur to a female officer in the department. That case is still pending, and is being looked at by the District Attorney’s office.

He was the second police chief casualty of the Dobbs’ era. Former Chief Brad McConahay was fired earlier, and an undisclosed settlement was later reached with the officer.

“I feel confident he (Koger) will be able to continue leading the department in a favorable direction, and also that we’re going to start working with our patrol officers to be a more community-minded department,” Dobbs said.

In addition, former City Judge Monica Corker went to federal court Wednesday in Tyler on charges of  “abuse of official capacity,” and on a charge of fraudulent use, or possession, of identifying information.

Results of that hearing were not available at press time Wednesday.

Police officers Raymond Wennerstrom and Wayne Nutt have also been placed on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation.

Also, new Police Officer Jason Perini was fired by Nelson earlier this week. He was in the fifth month of his probationary period with the department, according to city officials.

Wennerstrom has been off work for 17 days, and Nutt was placed on administrative leave this week.

Dobbs said Wednesday that the internal investigation was conducted by Walter Clifton, a Seven Points reserve officer.

Add to that, last week¹s Grand-Jury indictments of Councilman Bubba Powell, former Mayor Gerald Taylor and current councilman Tommy Taylor (not related), and you’re still not to the end of the Seven Points turmoil.

Only Laywell, Claudette Allsup and Cheryl Jones from the most-recently elected city council have not been indicted, not counting Mayor Joe Dobbs, who presides over the council if the city has another meeting.

 So far, two of “The Missing Three” have not been indicted. Taylor is the only member of the two members who have attended all meetings, only to see each canceled for lack of a quorum in absence of “The Missing Three.”

There was no city council meeting for the month of November, and without a council, the city still hasn’t passed a budget for the next fiscal year, or had its first audit in 13 years. It also have not solved its problem of accessing city funds with the absence of Mayor Pro-Tem Hank Laywell’s signature, forcing the mayor to shift funds from other city bank accounts to keep city government functioning.

This is in spite of mediation talks, in which both sides agreed to cooperate with one another, and not attempt to have members of the other side fired from their positions. That was a 30-day temporary injunction affecting both sides, but nothing came of it.

They¹re still not having meetings. Laywell still isn’t signing checks. Dobbs is still making hiring and firing personnel decisions without a council’s approval, based on City Attorney Blake Armstrong¹s opinion that a 1995 resolution gave all powers to the mayor.

Not much love is being passed around city hall these days.

When Dobbs was asked about the recent indictments of two current city officials, and two former city officials,  to go along with the federal indictment of Corker, he had this to say about his embattled political rivals:

“Since Bubba Powell has been indicted on abuse of officials capacity, which stems from his alleged use of special funds for personal use, I asked for his resignation from Seven Points  City Council.”

Concerning Taylor, Dobbs said, “I know that justice will prevail, and if Mr. Taylor is found guilty of the alleged offenses, then I believe he should stiffly be held accountable for the maximum punishment.”

Both Powell and Taylor are accused of cashing second-party checks in the city judge’s office, and receiving cash from special city funds. Both are charged with two counts of abuse of official capacity.

Both Powell and Gerald Taylor were asked for their comments Wednesday, but did not return phone calls by press time.

 Dobbs was less critical of Tommy Taylor’s indictment for bribery.  Tommy Taylor has been a staunch supporter of Dobbs.

“I don’t really understand what he’s been charged with, as far as bribery is concerned. If anything, it should be abuse of official capacity, like the others,” Dobbs said.

Tommy Taylor is charged with use of maid service in his home as part of a public service arrangement.

The official indictments show 57 pages on one Gerald Taylor indictment, and 20 pages on the other. Powell’s abuse of capacity charge covers just six pages.

Here is what is known of the new Seven Points Police Chief, Curt Koker, 47, who was

scheduled to be sworn in Thursday.

• Until recently he was chief of the Tarrant County Hospital District. He was replaced when a new regime came in and wanted it¹s own chief, according to Dobbs.

• Prior to that he was a Dallas Police Officer for 16 years and four months.

• He  holds a master peace officer’s certification;

• He is a special investigator certified through TCLEOSE, an organization that qualified police officers, or disqualifies them.

 The Review will have an interview with recently-indicted city council member Tommy Taylor, who wants to tell his side of the story.