The City of Weimar announced December 15, 2025, that Police Chief David Socha has resigned from his position, marking the second senior city departure in recent weeks following concerns involving hiring and credentialing practices within city government.
The resignation comes amid unresolved questions surrounding Socha’s initial appointment, his licensing status at the time of his swearing-in, and a broader controversy that previously led to the resignation of former City Manager Donald Dixson.
Questions Raised Over Socha’s Appointment
Concerns about Socha’s appointment were first raised publicly by Corruption Watch – Texas, which reported that Socha did not hold an active Texas peace officer license at the time he was photographed after being sworn in as Police Administrator for the Weimar Police Department.
City officials initially defended the appointment, stating that Socha was properly credentialed to serve in an administrative capacity and was working toward compliance with Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) requirements.
Records later showed that Socha’s peace officer license had been inactive since September 2023, but was reactivated on October 30, 2025. TCOLE service records indicate that Socha subsequently became active as Chief of Police on November 10, 2025, a role he held for approximately 35 days before resigning.
City Manager’s Defense and Subsequent Resignation
At the time of Socha’s appointment, then-City Manager Donald Dixson publicly defended the process, stating that TCOLE had confirmed Socha was eligible to serve and that remaining continuing education requirements could be completed within the allowed timeframe.
However, Dixson himself resigned on November 17 after information surfaced regarding unresolved misdemeanor warrants from Pennsylvania dating back to the 1990s. According to city statements, those charges did not appear during background checks because Dixson’s surname was reportedly entered as “Dixon” rather than “Dixson,” and the screening system focused on convictions rather than active charges.
Prior to his appointment with Weimar, the same charges seemingly did not appear with his prior government employers: City of Kilgore, City of Dallas, City of Grapevine, City of Richmond Hills, and City of Fort Worth.
City of Weimar officials later acknowledged that the discovery raised broader concerns about the reliability of background screening methods used by Texas municipalities.
David Socha’s TCOLE Licensing and Service History
Records from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) show that David Socha has a lengthy law enforcement career, primarily with the Austin Police Department, where he served as a peace officer from January 8, 1993, through January 9, 2023, totaling approximately 30 years of service. Following his retirement from Austin PD, Socha’s Texas peace officer license became inactive on September 1, 2023.
TCOLE records further reflect that Socha’s license was reactivated on October 30, 2025. Shortly thereafter, he was listed as active with the Weimar Police Department beginning November 10, 2025, under the appointment title of Chief of Police.
The publicly available TCOLE licensing records do not list any prior disciplinary actions against Socha. However, the timing of the license reactivation and the subsequent appointment to the chief’s position became a central point of public inquiry as questions emerged regarding the city’s hiring and credentialing process.
Outstanding TCOLE Inquiry
While Socha ultimately regained his peace officer license and was formally appointed as chief, The Hawk’s Eye has been informed that an open TCOLE inquiry exists related to how the situation evolved. The scope of that inquiry has not been publicly disclosed, and neither TCOLE nor city officials have stated whether the investigation is connected to Socha’s resignation.
City officials have not offered a specific reason for Socha’s departure, and no disciplinary findings have been announced.
Interim Leadership and City Response
The City of Weimar announced that Sergeant Investigator John Kelly has been appointed as Interim Chief of Police while the position is filled. City leaders stated that law enforcement operations will continue with assistance from the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office.
In multiple public statements, Mayor Carlton Tucker emphasized the city’s commitment to transparency and acknowledged that recent events exposed weaknesses in hiring and vetting procedures. City officials have indicated they are reviewing enhanced background investigation options, including the use of third-party firms.
Unanswered Questions Remain
Although city leaders have pledged reforms, several questions remain unresolved, including:
- Why Socha resigned shortly after Dixson’s departure
- Whether the TCOLE inquiry will result in formal findings
- How many prior government agencies employed Dixson without identifying the outstanding warrants
- Whether background screening systems used by municipalities adequately account for name variations and active charges
At this time, the City of Weimar has not announced whether additional internal reviews are underway.
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