DeSoto denies standard public information request from city/police

By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News

DESOTO – I have been a journalist for many years.

I have made public information requests from cities, counties and police departments for many years.

During that time, I have received the requested information from each municipality or agency without being charged a fee because I am with the media and attempting to let people know what is going on in the cities and counties where they live.

For the average citizen there is a fee for this information and often it is unaffordable. Residents rely on the media to demand transparency from their elected officials and law enforcement.

Recently, I made a request to the DeSoto acknowledged on April 16. Five business days later, April 23 I was sent a response for payment. Again, in all my years as a journalist making public information requests, I have never been asked to pay since transparency is important between media and cities/police departments.

I promptly sent a response to DeSoto and asked them if they would waive the fee as they have always done for me and all my media outlets.

They said they would not.

The request was regarding the Nationally Accredited Parks and Recreation Direction, Chris Glover who was officially terminated from DeSoto on February 26, 2026. The reasons for his termination were unclear since DeSoto chose not to supply the information.

There were city council meetings held in April in which residents spoke on Glover’s behalf, but it is unclear what the city plans to do in that regard.

After doing much digging and speaking to residents and anonymous staff, in Desoto who did not wish to be named, it appeared Glover, the Police Department and Havoc Football issues went much deeper than surface level.

The requested information the city did not work with me to receive as media included:
Any and all documents relating to the Havoc Football payments during its entire existence within the city of DeSoto including payment for use of facilities and employees/contractors hired by Havoc who were also employed with the City of DeSoto.

Documents to date back 2015 to present unless noted otherwise:
Invoices from the DeSoto Police Department billing police officers off or on duty hired to worked security during Havoc Football games/tournaments.

Invoices between the City of DeSoto and Havoc Football for use of facilities.

Any outstanding amounts owed to the City of DeSoto and/or DeSoto PD for facility use or off duty officers.

Any contracts regarding use of facilities or hiring of off duty officers during the entirety of Havoc Football conferences or games in the city of DeSoto

Any contracts made by the City of DeSoto and Chris Curry regarding Havoc Football or otherwise.

Any documents regarding the suspension of Havoc Football in DeSoto

Any exit interviews, correspondence by letter or email from any employees terminated or resigning from the City of DeSoto regarding Chris Glover and Majed Al Ghafry particularly from Liz Ortiz, Melissa Jones and Tracy Cormier.

Any sexual harassment complaints or otherwise made complaints regarding employee Chris Glover from 2020 to present

Paperwork regarding Chris Glover’s leave of absence (from December to present) and current termination paperwork and status

Any severance payments to Parks and Recreation employees from 2020 to current

Any email exchanges between Chris Glover and Majed Al Ghafry regarding performance, Havoc Football, employee complaints.

Any email exchanges regarding Chris Glover between Majed Al Ghafry and Denae Greenly and/or any interviews into the Chris Glover investigation and his leave of absence and termination.

Any complaints filed on Majed Al Ghafry during his time employed with the City of DeSoto from July 2024 to present by Chris Glover, Brandon Lacy or any other employee.

As an example of what I was attempting to research for transparency I anonymously received a copy of a letter from DeSoto’s former Finance Director, Tracy Cormier to DeSoto Mayor Rachel Proctor in which she wrote she wanted to explain her “abrupt retirement.” She wrote she had planned to stay an additional year to June 2026 “but I felt it was in my interest to department this year.”

She said she chose to leave when she did to leave the city “on a positive note. After working under Dr. Richardson and Brandon Wright, both of whom provided clear leadership and strategic direction, the transition to the current city manager’s office brought a noticeable lack of goals and guidance. Staying longe might have compromised the positive legacy I hoped to maintain.”  

Regarding Glover, he was unable to comment at this time regarding his termination. A second story will be forthcoming based on employees, past employees and other means of information due to DeSoto’s unwillingness to offer transparency.

As a note, regarding the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), governments — including cities — are required to respond to public information requests within 10 business days of receiving the request.

Cities must provide requested public records or notify the requester if there are no responsive records, or if records are covered by a prior Attorney General determination, within 10 business days of receipt. The law also requires agencies to release non confidential records “as expeditiously as possible,” so in practice, the 10 day rule is the firm deadline.

If some or all of the records are exempt (e.g., personal contact info, medical records, certain personnel files), the city must notify the Attorney General for a ruling. If the AG rules they can be withheld, the city must then notify the requester in writing and the Attorney General issues an opinion that the information is public, the city must release it or notify the requester within 30 days of receiving that opinion.

Requestors do not have to explain their purpose for accessing records, in the case of media it is regarding transparency for resident’s information and possible safety.
Cities are allowed to charge for public information requests, however, it is not common to do so to work with media for transparency purposes.

Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films.