Fort Worth city manager calls for criminal investigation after firing aviation director
Fort Worth’s aviation director has been fired and the city manager has asked the police to conduct a criminal investigation.
City Manager David Cooke terminated Bill Welstead as head of the department Sept. 9 after an internal investigation, the city said Tuesday evening. Details were sparse, but Cooke asked for an audit of the department as well as a Fort Worth police investigation into potential criminal wrongdoing.
A city media release has scant details and did not provide specifics about the allegations against Welstead. A city spokeswoman said the matter was kept quiet as the city manager conducted the internal investigation.
Cooke did not immediately return a call for comment. In a statement the city released Tuesday evening he said ethical behavior and accountability make up two core values of the city.
“We expect all city employees to practice these values, especially our department leaders,” Cooke said.
Findings from the city audit and criminal investigation will be made public, if possible, spokeswoman Michelle Gutt said.
Welstead’s name and profile had been removed from the city’s website as of 6 p.m. Tuesday. According to a LinkedIn under his name, he has worked for the city for about 11 years.
The aviation department oversees three airports: Alliance, Spinks and Meacham International. Meacham and Spinks provide regional aviation services for air charter, corporate, business and recreational aircraft. While Alliance Air Services manages Alliance, the city owns the airport.
Roger Venables, the city’s assistant director for property management, will serve as the interim director for the Aviation Department.
