It's been a trying week for the people of Maypearl, who are still reeling from the shocking arrest of former police chief Kevin Coffey.
Behind closed doors, members of the Maypearl City Council and a city attorney met to discuss disciplinary steps for the former police leader.
Coffey, 49, was booked Wednesday into the Ellis County Jail on charges that include child sexual assault and indecency with a child, according to jail records. His bond was set at $350,000.
"The community is – you know, it's broken and it needs support," Susan Welch-Rodriguez told NBC 5.
The city initially sent out a statement reporting Coffey was no longer the police chief – but they never said he was fired. It was revealed Saturday that Coffey resigned amid the allegations of his soliciting a minor, according to a written statement by Maypearl Mayor Adele Mooney.
At the end of the meeting, the council said no further action was needed because Coffey had resigned himself. Members said the search for a new police chief would begin immediately.
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"It's all about community and getting things done and back on track," Welch-Rodriguez said.
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The Ellis County District Attorney's office and the Texas Rangers began investigating Coffey after the parents of a 16-year-old girl complained, according to search warrants released in July.
Coffey first contacted the girl on Facebook two years ago when she was 14 years old, investigators said, and ended up messaging her almost every day.
Some of the texts were sexually explicit like "You have a nice body" and other comments far more graphic, according to the warrants. In one case, he sent her a photo of himself holding handcuffs with the message, "One of these days hahaha," authorities said.
"Where I'm at, I just pray for him, you know. We know God is in control and God leaves no stones unturned," John Pruitt said.
The girl told investigators that Coffey was also communicating with as many as five other girls, the warrants said.
"We wish for it to be known that this council would have preferred dealing with this circumstance by terminating the former chief," said Mayor Adele Mooney, City of Maypearl.
Coffey was hired as Maypearl police chief two years ago.
NBC 5's Tim Ciesco contributed to this report.
