BAYOU VISTA, Texas – Video is circulating online showing tense moments between the Bayou Vista City Police Chief, an alderman and another man who says they were just trying to help feed the community after Hurricane Beryl knocked out power.
Now there are calls for changes at the local government, meanwhile the chief says he was just following orders.
The cell phone video mostly shows part of a heated exchange Sunday between Bayou Vista Police Chief, Jimmie Gillane and City Alderman Position 5, Danny Rambin.
“All you folks are sitting at home on your butts in an air-conditioned place,” Gilliane could be seen shouting. “Y’all don’t pay me to do ‘EMC”…find whoever you want.”
Rambin seen in the video on left in the blue t-shirt said it was the result of an attempt Sunday to use the community center to feed neighbors who had lost food because of power outages caused by Hurricane Beryl. He says the day before he was given the ok and everything went smoothly.
“We ended up serving about 300 people on Saturday so I had another resident come to me and say hey I got a bunch of food on Sunday,” Rambin said.
He adds he got permission from Mayor Paula Eshelman to use the center on Sunday too, but she later changed her mind.
“Well then I woke up Sunday morning to a text from the mayor telling me I would not be able to use the community center, the pavilion, or anything affiliated with Bayou Vista,” Rambin said.
He says her response when he asked why, was even more shocking than the decision itself.
“(She said) if I wanted to do it again I needed to use my house, and I asked her why and she wouldn’t give me a reason she said ‘because I said so,’” he said.
We called Mayor Eshelman to get her reasoning.
“Sir, I’m not going to make any comment but I do appreciate you… and I hope you have a good day,” Eshelman said before hanging up the phone.
Because of what Rambin says was a dire need, he tells KPRC 2 he decided to use the community center breezeway on Sunday anyway, but things didn’t go as planned. A man recording the altercation also ended up exchanging words with Gillane.
“You need to move away from me. You are a disgrace in my eyes,” Gillane shouted.
“As a marine you should’ve been better prepared,” the man shouted before cuss words were exchanged.
We called Gillane who had this to say about asking them to leave.
“The reason was because the mayor said no,” Gillane said.
“Did she give you a reason why?” Deven Clarke asked.
“No sir and I didn’t ask. That’s her prerogative and that’s her job she told me what to do and I did it,” Gillane said.
Rambin now questions whether Gillane should remain police chief following his conduct in the video, this was Gillane’s response.
“Alderman Rambin needs to step down because he said he was going to control that situation, he was out there drinking and he was out there having a little party with his friends,” Gillane said.
Rambin insists it was not a party and that 600 people were fed all in all. He also said he plans to raise this issue at the next council meeting hoping it leads to more transparency in the future.