C'Shores police chief resigns, under investigation

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

The Cottonwood Shores police chief has resigned, effective April 16, confirmed city officials Monday, April 13.

Cottonwood Shores Police Chief Tom Williams will continue to be on paid “administrative leave,” as he has been since Monday, April 6, until his resignation, confirmed Sheila Moore, city administrator/secretary, in an April 13 statement.

“In order to minimize any speculation that might affect the City of Cottonwood Shores in a negative manner, Williams...tendered his resignation,” she said.

The police chief is being investigated by the District Attorney’s office for a disturbance involving him and his fiancee.

In what has not yet been confirmed to be a connected matter, investigators in the District Attorney’s office, 33rd and 424th Judicial Districts (which include Llano County,) are probing an incident between Williams, 69, and his reported fiancee, Candace Meyer, 51, of Weatherford, Texas.

According to Horseshoe Bay Police Chief Bill Lane, the episode, which is classified as “under investigation,” happened at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Towers hotel, at 12:10 a.m. on Sunday, March 22.

Horseshoe Bay Police Department officers responding to the disturbance call “observed redness on both of [Meyer’s] wrists and a slight bruise on one hand,” Lane continued.

Because it was unclear whether Meyer’s injuries were “defensive or offensive,” Williams was allowed to call an on-duty Cottonwood Shores police officer to pick him up, Lane said.

At that time, Meyer reportedly told officers she did not want to press charges against Williams. 

Law enforcement involvement began when the hotel's loss prevention personnel called authorities regarding a disturbance. 

For more on this story, see Tuesday's Highlander.