Houston-area suburb's leadership on police chief's alleged OT payments: 'This information was not well received by your city representatives'

The police chief of a west Houston-area suburb is on administrative leave as officials determine a response of his alleged overtime payments. Spring Valley Village Chief of Police Loyd Evans stands accused of paying himself up to $300,000 for overtime during the last two years, according to reports from Houston-based media outlets.

A statement from the city, which is 10 miles west of Downtown Houston, said that the revelations surfaced during a special meeting of the Spring Valley Village City Council earlier this year.

According to Houston NBC affiliate KPRC, Spring Valley Village City Attorney Loren Smith identified Evans as the exempt employee the city referred to in the statement who earned "$189,038 in OT plus base salary" in 2020 and "an additional $96,040 plus base salary" last year.

“It is only in the rarest of occasions and under specific conditions that city policy permits OT for exempt employees,” the statement said.

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that city officials questioned Evans about the payments.

"This information was not well received by your city representatives," the statement said. "The lack of openness, transparency or even awareness by the individual responsible for the distribution of these OT funds (who was also the recipient of these funds) has left your city representatives questioning the judgment and their trust in this individual to continue their role with the city."

Attorney Amanda Bolin, who is representing the chief, told KPRC that negotiations for a separation agreement are ongoing. Bolin asserted her client's innocence. 

“Chief Evans denies any wrongdoing," she said, according to KPRC. "He is hopeful for an amicable separation from the city.”

The city council will meet on April 12 to follow up on the matter, the station reported.