TX- Murphy fires police chief involved in 'Dateline NBC' sex predator sting

5-29-2008 Texas:

Billy Myrick, the Murphy police chief who helped facilitate the city's participation in a sex predator sting with Dateline NBC in 2006, was fired Wednesday.

But Murphy City Manager James Fisher said the "To Catch a Predator" segment and its legal fallout did not weigh in his decision to terminate Mr. Myrick.

Mr. Fisher said that since he started as city manager in March, he has been evaluating departments and decided a change was needed in the Police Department.

"It was the best thing for the department, for the community and for Mr. Myrick," Mr. Fisher said.

Mr. Myrick could not be reached for comment.

During the Dateline sting, conducted with Internet watchdog group Perverted Justice, former Kaufman County District Attorney Louis "Bill" Conradt Jr. fatally shot himself. His family is suing NBC, saying that Dateline caused his suicide.

In addition, the Collin County district attorney's office declined to pursue more than 20 cases related to the sting, citing problems with the evidence gathered.

Former City Manager Craig Sherwood, who resigned last summer and staunchly defended Mr. Myrick from pressure related to the sting, said the firing was a bad decision.

"There's nobody in my opinion who works harder and does more for the safety of the people of Murphy," said Mr. Sherwood, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor this month. "It's disappointing."

Mr. Sherwood said Mr. Myrick, who has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience, transformed the Murphy department into a professional organization in the three years he was chief. Mr. Sherwood hired him in 2005.

Some City Council members, including Mayor Bret Baldwin, criticized Mr. Myrick in part because he didn't inform them that the sting was going to take place. Mr. Baldwin did not return messages seeking comment.

Louis A. Barrow Jr. will serve as interim police chief, Mr. Fisher said. According to a Murphy news release, Chief Barrow has served as chief or interim chief in five Texas cities. He was an interim police chief under Mr. Fisher in Bee Cave, near Austin, where Mr. Fisher was city administrator before taking the Murphy job.

Mr. Fisher said Chief Barrow will be among those involved in the search for a permanent chief but will not be a candidate for the job. ..News Source.. by IAN McCANN / The Dallas Morning News imccann@dallasnews.com