Marlin Police Chief reinstated by city council

The Marlin City Council voted to reinstate Police Chief James Hommel if the animal cruelty charges against him are dismissed during a meeting on March 17.

Hommel was suspended for six months with pay in March after being arrested on animal abuse charges stemming from a viral social media post showing dogs being malnourished and living in their own feces at the Marlin Animal Control Center.

Council approved the motion at a special meeting on March 17. They acknowledged that there has been no official decision to drop the charges against Hommel, and stated if the charges are not dropped, the motion will not go into effect.

In addition to Hommel, Animal Control Officer Nicole Grams and Robert Thomas were also arrested. All three are facing 10 counts of animal abuse.

Captain James Davis has been acting as Marlin Police Department Chief since Hommel’s suspension.