@ffice of tf-Je IBttornep &ma1 

DAN MORALES 

Al-rORSLY GESERAL 

iibtatt of 7arxae 

septemba 3.1993 

Honorable Fred HiG Opinion No. DM-248 

cbldr 

committee on urban Affairs Rc: wlletk, under chapter 143 of the Local 

TexasHouseofReprsentativa GovunmatCode,rpoliceo5certill8s 

StateCapiiolExtauion, Room2.704 resigned his commission rmy rescind his 

Austiq Texas 78768-2910 msigMtionMdkninrtusd,Mdrd8ted 

questions (RQ-532) 

Yw6nluLwhethertllispoGce~ar,uDdachrpta143oftheLocrl 

OovanmentCode,mryrerciadbis~onmdk~~bytheDeSotochiefof 

poGce. cbapter143cmtaimtbertrMesthatngulrtemunici~civiiraviceryrtansfor 

poGcedepmmauMd!iredcportmentr. TkJeino9fovihiachnpter143tht 

involves r&nation by poGa oilicers and 6m 6gbta-s accpt for section 143.088, wbicb 

definesmoffawforgivingorlcccptinerbribeiantumf~ntiriagorrrsigning~r 

civil service position. PoGce 05~ are public officers, so it is appropriate to consult the 

general rules regarding resignations ofpublic officers. Sawyer v. City ojSan Antonio, 234 

S.W.2d 398.401 (Tcx. 1950).’ 

The stated purpose of chapter 143 “is to secure eflkient fire and police 

departments composed of capable personnel who are 6ee hm political inthence and who 

p. 1288 
HoDonbleFr&W--2 (DM-248) 

hwepamMaltcnrplaymenralure8spubGc-: LoalGov?ckde~143.001. 

ThegenaJrulcirthttheknefhofpamu~ntanployment~rppGar~onlyto 

pelXMUWbtClIUiDinUUpl~UKlUranployeeWbotigOSbrllt&bURfitS 

pmvidal by the civil smite rd. 1% AM. luk 2d Civil Sewice 0 58 (1976); see, e.g.. 

Nebmrkarel. Sctmubv. C&qA%ut&b~, lOON.W.2d 202,205 (Neb. 1960). It also 

isthegeaalrulethtoncetberrsignrtionofrpolice~~hsbecomeefliaiveby 

8rqtmceby8n8utbo~power~tberesign8tioncannotkwitbdr8wnevalwitbtb8t 

powds commt. See Adews v. hb, 57 A2d 365,367 (N.J. 1948); 67 C.J.S. Q@ers 

andpUblic Enplopes 4 104 (1978); c/. Cnwch v. Civil Serv. Cbmwh, 459 S.W.2d 491. 

494 (Ta Civ. App.-Houston [14tb Dial 1970, wit rtfd UC.) (wbcre poGce 05&s 

. . rwgnMonludbecolne~by~sroaptMce WitbWtkWWl~CfOf6CCfS 

dCSiEtOWitb&8Wf+SgdOQdvil#vicecommirrion’S8CtiWtbaerAaiD~ 

tkIMttWW8SWitbCUtkg8l&~). 

YOlKSCCOlldquestion8SkSWbdKXtkD&OtOpdiceCbi~llUynhirrtbe*CCt 

poGceo5~bymymahodoshrthnrppoimmead~~~~lidforpoG~ 

05Mccrl5edbytbccivil~~ A.tigll8thfi.Olllcivilravicc 

cONtitutes8cOmpletebre8kblaervice8nd8rOf8ll~8ad~. Lbwing 

v. Hiwick, 43 N.B.2d 709, 710 (N.Y. 1942); 1M AM. iuR 2d Cid snvicr Q 58; 

3 E. MCQULLw, MuNlclp~t COwoit~~1o~8 0 12.122 (3d d. rev. 1990). Reentry into 

theCiV9ravia8tkd@UtiOlli&fCW~OfIdOXi@dpnwasios8aeW 

b+lil@OfdtXb8SGdOOttEWrppointwrrs,tba?ghcl~8’rdnrtrtaMa’ 

DoerIng v. Hinricbs, 43 N.E.2d at 711. We have found no uatutov provision that would 

changetheregmeralrules;thadon,wedethathepoGeeoffi~murtbebeatad 

8s 8n applicant for 8 begin&g position and may be appointed and eventwGy promoted 

only by the methods applicable to aG 11ppGc3nts for begim1in8 positions, as provided in 

suwta B of chapter 143, LaxI Gov’t Code 08 143.0211.038. and, to the extent 

applicable, subchapter G of cbpta 143. ti $8 143.101- .134 (most of subchqtex G 

:;;!T, :, Z+X!itiS of 1.5 malion persons or more).’ 

p. 1289 
HonombleFredHiG - Pw 3 (DH-248) 

YOWtbifdCp&0”89lSWhUhWthGD&tOCiVtlSWiCC-Ollh8S 

~dktion~~$e~muterofthepmPc!&+auamlt0fthesobject05cu. 

conlauwwdashwrmcb~oe gection143.009- 

tbecivilselvice wmmissionto%vestig8te8ndfeporton8Gm8tta%rrlrtingtothe 

enforcanentmd~~of...chpta[143]udrayruler~~sduadatbir~~ 

[to] determine ifthe chqter end rules UC being obeyed.’ The r&statement of the subject 

police 05cer relates to the enforcement of ch8pter 143. so the commission does have 

jurisfGction of the m8tter. 

The1TiVkViCecommiSSidw’r8Utholityto~~dirmirc8poliCeO5~ 

derives solely from dmpter 143. Section 143.052 of the Local Gowment Code 

provides that the bead of 8 police deprrtment mry upend 8 police 05cer for 8 

nuonrblepaiodofnomorrthnlS&yror~torviottionof8civilravice 

~k811d~t8testht8t1b~k&~itG~~pe1~ionirequivrlent~8~.’ &&nl43.051 

rpedfiacthepamisPiblCgrwnbfortkdvilrervicecownirrionto~inpromulgating 

rulesp~~~uuKtorrrmonlornupauionoffirrfightarradpoG~o5casmd 

rtltesthrtm,nJepr~~rucbcuueirnlidunlaric~aaeormorrofthpamissiile grounds. Sections 143.052 8nd 143.053 at8bGsh tk pro&me tar 8 rmspaded 

Ike fighter or police officer to 8ppead 8 supension to the civil raviu: commission. 

Section 143.053, subsection (e), quires the commission in its decision of the rp@ to 

state whether the 6re fighter or poGcc 05cer is permWltly dismissed, teanpomrily 

suspended, or restored to his or her former position or status. Nowhere in chapter 143 is 

the civil service commission urthorized to suspend or dismiss 8 police 05cu or Gre 

fighter except on 8ppeai from 8 auspaion or dismkd by the de head. we 

conclude that the following language from Civil Service Commksiun v. Gmer, 344 

;;.:.‘.zd 225 (Tex. Cii. App.-Texarka~ 1960. no writ) (per auiam), c.onau@ the 

8t8tutory predecessor :0~~143,irtillcomcturppG~tothewrarokw: 

[O]nly the Chief or Hud of the Police w m8y suspend 8 

poticeman iqddkitdy, 8nd ody the cii &fVhX (hIUdiW, 8s 8 

p. 1290 
Honomble Fred HiG - Prge 4 (DM-248) 

hurdof&pe&m8yorder8poGcem8udkh8r@~mthe 

ravia8ftOrfilldhGthC~liamrn@li@‘ofthCVbkiOnOf8CiVG 

8wvicendespec5edint&deprrlmmt’rHe8d[sic]orChiePstimdy 

. 

Under chpter 143, only the police chiefhas the authority to inithte the process of 

remcvhg 8 police 05cef hm his or ha position. See Arm&f v. Ci@ ofXhwmar1,222 

S.W.2d 314,317 (Ta Cii. App.-D&s 1949). reVdan ofher-, q S.W.2d 620 

(Ta 1950) (a8mtory predecessor of bpter 143 %upefsed~ 8G powar of the chukr 

Biviagunhoritytormayor,citycouncil,orcitymanrga.tonwmrtwinganplayas 

of tid Cii Senice dep8ttmcms”). The police ddefs 8hority to dismiss the police 

otsar,~irbrordathnthtprovidsdiachrpa143pdiraot~in~aK 

merelybecwenoneoftbegroundsfbr#lspe&normnonl~edinDec6on 

143.0518pplytotbesul&ctofGcer.’ Ilrweh8ve88id$iftheofGcer,wbosetign8tion 

hdbecome&ctive,w8snotrappohtedtohispositioninsubstmMcolllpliur;ewith 

tbe~~for~inrmenttorbeeinnineporitiW~inchrpta143,thcn 

hk~pOiBtmaIt~8Idky. Hehrnorighttoo5aradbnocivGaenkeprotection 

Ida Ch8pta 143. &d.ocd &v? code 0 143.003 (‘ToGce ~flicd mews 8 mcmbcT of 

8poG~depamneatorothcrpaceo5~~wurppoinstdin~~~ 

p. 1291 
HoaombleFredW - F%ge 5 (DM-248) 

IftbereisnogeacnltamimtioneutMtyiot&~sdurtathuwouldbe 

rppliabletothc~ar,or~tbedulyruthorizsdparonwpaMnr¬wirhto 

adlie such mholity, the commiuionm8yrequatthsttherttonraygena8lorthe 

owntyor~~m~redLautaOfthcofScabywryor8procesdiaginquo 

lbwT@lfO. see cii. Pmt. & Ran. code 0 66.002 (8tIomey galelal or wunty or district 

momymaypuitionanlltf~kJvctofikQuitionbqJ/o~); se also, eg., Lewis 

v. hake, 641 S.W.2d 392.394 (Ta App.-Ddl8s 1982, no writ) (quo wmranto 

gcnarllyicacckuive~to~~ewtborityofparontoretuo5~&lda). 

Quo worrwro is rv8il8ble to RQOVe”8parOn[WhO]USlUpS,iOtNd~intO,OrUld8~y 

boldsorexecutm...mo5ce.g Cii.Pmc.&Ran.CodeQ66.001. Altbougbwelme 

fbuUdru,TexUcuS lOCO@&thU~8procadineiSnniLMc~fw8 

police offica who unh’t%y holds 8 civil service posit&-d the 8uthoritk we founj 

ftom other states hold or imply th8t police oBccrs of my mk hold %n oi3ke” and 

therefore M occupant of such M office could be subject to remov8l by quo IV-ro. Set 

Civilsent. Cmm’n v. Pebd, 571 AZd 715, 719 (Corm. Supa. 1989) (police officers, 

witbout regard to rank, are public 05cers whose title to their office may be cbaGenged by 

quo worranto proceedi&; Cooper v. Tomr OfBelkviile, 118 A. 332, 333 (NJ. 1921) 

(pa curiam) (action for certiwmi cbaGenging &ry 8w8rded to city police patrohn on 

Y --**-d :%I he w&s neither drjure nor &f4co patrolman WLP impropa es 8ttack on title - ---- 

topubGco5ce,whichcuIbebroughtonlybyquo -)~;cj.CXcXl..MV. 

Ci@ ojChil/icoU~, 601 N.E.2d 612,614 (Ohio &p. 1991) (wbae court hnd enjoined 

$ilGng0ff&lrth0ffW ~esinpoGcedeprrtmenfno&ionrdionfbr~owiGGe 

p. 1292 
nonor8o1e ma mu - r8ge 0 

hrtrvorofrinslerrLtorto~iadividualsfrommyofoshathntpodtionsbsuuse 

removal not necesuy to put rektor in potice 05ca position).’ 

Youri?dquedtion8&swhoh8stbewthorhytowfbrcednpta143. We 

8ssumeyourefbrtothe~contextyouh8vepm8mtedtow. Aswes8id8bo-& 

da clmpta 143 of the Locdl W CodethepoGceddefhastheauthMyto 

~~8~nwhounlawfUnyholdrrpoliceofficerpositiWmdthe~ravioe 

commission has only 8ppeG8tejurisdiction toremove such 8a 05cq while under ch8pta 

66 of the Cii Pm&e 8nd Remedies Code the 8ttomey gened or the district or anmty 

8ttomey ia 8uthoriz.d to initi8te 8 quo wtzmmto proceedmg to oust the officer. Another 

-Of8UthOli~tOdidl8f&tbeSUbjectO5C!Gl~CXiStSill8citycbrrta 

provisionPrthoridnethcitycounrilorthedty’rcbidac~to~~1~. 

undadupta143oftheLoal GovanmcntCodc,~8 

pOGceO5cefsre&n8tiOn~8civil~cepOsitiOneffectivebyproper~~ theresigMtionm8ynotbeevalwiththeconsMtofthepasonwho8cwptedthemsign8tion. 

TIlatf~8pOGaO5~inRlcb-m8ynOtbc 

fht8tdtOhiS~sitiOilbecrwc8UCh808CtiOtliS-tO8 

8bWmw8lofthem8ign8tion 

chpta 143 mquires 8 police o&a seeking mppobmm 

8fta 8 ~0ht8ry 8d dfbctive r&~tiw born 8 poGa depmnat 

to&tre8t~888n8ppGantf6r8begin8@position. m 

8uch8no5c8rlll8ybe8ppointed8devaWGypmmotedonlyby 

themethodsappGcabletoallappGcantsfbrbqhingpositions,Is 

providedi11a1bdqtaBofctqta143,LoalGov’tCodc8ections 

143.021 throua 143.038,8nd, to the extent 8ppGdle, subch8pta 

G of chapter 143. Locd Gov’t Code 5s 143.101- .134. 

The DeSoto Civil Savlce Commission ha9 jurisdiction to 

investigate the matta of the purported rebsbtement of 8n 05cer 

who has voluntarily and eEectively resigned. 

p. 1293 
HonombleFredHill - Pege 7 (DIG248) 

ApoGceo5cawhowuaoteppointedtohiscommisionin 

~rdencewithchapta143isnotentitledtocivGaavicestetus. 

Undaehepta143oftheLucdGwaunent codethepoGcechief 

h86 the 8UthOIity to remove 8 person who ud8wfully holds 8 police 

05cer pitioq 8nd the civil service ammission h8s only 8ppeG8te 

jurisdiction to remove such 8 person, while under chapter 66 of the 

Civil Pruztice end Remedies Code the ettomey g&ml or the district 

or county utomey is ulthorized to initiete 8 quo worru?lro 

procding to oust the person. Anotha source of Who* to 

dkcharge the subject 05cer perhaps exists in 8 city charta provision 

8uthorizingthecitywuncilorthecity’schiefexecutiveto~e 

-Pw=. 

DAN MORALES 

Attorney Genad of Taps 

wlu PRYOR 

FirstAadantAttomeyGeneml 

MARYKELLER 

Deputy Attorney Genu8l for Litigation 

RENEAHlcKs 

State Solicitor 

MADELElNE B. JOHNSON 

Chif, Opinion Committee 

Prepared by James B. Piin 

A ^r:“^-1: !.%mey Galad 

p. 1294