By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

MANVEL, Texas — Two former Manvel Police Department officers accused their former chief of retaliation just days before city officials proposed his termination.

The Manvel police retaliation complaints raise questions about former Police Chief Keith Traylor’s leadership. They also reveal disputes involving the Manvel Police Association and public-information requests.

Former Police Captain Chris Day filed a complaint on September 3, 2026. Former reserve and part-time officer David Guerrero submitted another complaint the following day.

Both men questioned employment decisions involving Traylor.

Meanwhile, earlier records reveal another dispute over public-information requests involving department employees and critics.

The documents provide new insight into conflicts within the department. However, the complaints do not prove that Traylor violated department policies or retaliated against employees.

Manvel police retaliation complaints target former chief

Day submitted his complaint to city officials on September 3, 2026.

He accused department leadership of retaliation, unfair treatment and procedural violations.

Day also questioned the handling of employment decisions involving his position.

One allegation concerned an August 12 termination letter.

According to Day, the department prepared the letter before an August 13 meeting about his employment.

That timeline raises questions about when department leadership reached its decision.

Day also served as president of the Manvel Police Association.

His complaint raised concerns about whether his association activities influenced his treatment.

He requested an independent investigation and asked officials to preserve relevant records.

The documents reviewed so far do not establish whether investigators substantiated his allegations.

Second officer disputes budget explanation

On September 4, 2026, Guerrero submitted a separate complaint to City Manager Dan Johnson.

Guerrero questioned the department’s explanation for ending his employment.

According to his complaint, department officials cited the upcoming budget cycle.

However, Guerrero believed his association with Day played a role.

“I believe the actual reason for my release was my association with Chris Day,” Guerrero wrote.

He asked the city to review staffing records, financial documents and internal communications.

Specifically, Guerrero wanted investigators to determine whether budget concerns justified his removal.

He also questioned whether the department retained other reserve officers after his departure.

Furthermore, he asked officials to examine any subsequent reserve officer appointments.

Guerrero argued that those records could help establish whether the department had a legitimate financial reason for releasing him.

His complaint does not prove that officials provided a false explanation.

Instead, Guerrero requested an independent review of the circumstances.

Police association tensions emerge in complaint

Guerrero also described growing tensions between Traylor and the Manvel Police Association.

According to his complaint, association members discussed a possible vote of no confidence in Traylor’s leadership.

Guerrero claimed Traylor expressed anger about those discussions.

“The Association is trying to stab me in the back,” Guerrero wrote.

He attributed those words to Traylor.

However, the available records do not independently verify that statement.

Guerrero also questioned whether Traylor viewed his friendship with Day as a reason to remove him.

As a result, he requested an investigation outside the chief’s chain of command.

He also asked city officials to protect employees who might provide information.

Public-information requests raise separate concerns

Earlier records reveal another dispute involving the Manvel Police Association.

Between July 20 and July 24, 2025, requests associated with the organization sought government records concerning specific individuals.

Those requests included communications involving city employees, residents and animal-control matters.

Texas law allows people to request government information.

Therefore, submitting a public-information request does not establish misconduct.

However, the purpose behind certain requests later became the subject of a complaint.

The available records do not establish who directed each request or why the association sought particular information.

Former animal-control officer alleges retaliation

On August 3, 2025, former Manvel Animal Control Officer John Sherman submitted a complaint concerning a public-information request.

Sherman believed the request targeted him because of an earlier whistleblower complaint.

He identified Day in connection with the disputed request.

However, the records do not establish whether Day acted independently or followed another person’s instructions.

They also do not establish whether anyone used the request for an improper purpose.

Those questions remain important because the records involve both association activities and allegations of retaliation.

Investigators would need additional communications or testimony to determine who authorized the requests.

Did department leadership direct the requests?

Another question concerns Traylor’s possible involvement.

Information provided during this investigation alleges that Traylor pressured Day to seek records about employees and residents who criticized department leadership.

However, the documents reviewed so far do not independently establish that allegation.

They also do not establish whether Traylor directed any specific request.

Day’s account could help clarify the circumstances.

Likewise, Traylor’s response could explain whether he had any involvement.

For now, the available evidence does not support a conclusion about who directed the disputed requests.

City proposes termination days after complaints

On September 10, 2026, Manvel officials issued a proposed termination notice involving Traylor.

The notice followed Day’s complaint by seven days.

It also came six days after Guerrero submitted his complaint.

However, the timing alone does not establish that either complaint caused the proposed termination.

The available records do not establish which allegations, if any, directly influenced the city’s decision.

Traylor later departed the Manvel Police Department.

Rick Alvarado subsequently assumed interim leadership.

Meanwhile, Traylor moved into an interim civilian administrative role with the Clute Police Department.

The leadership changes followed months of disputes involving department management and employee relations.

What the records establish

The documents identify several significant developments.

First, Day filed a retaliation complaint on September 3, 2026.

Next, Guerrero submitted a separate complaint on September 4.

Earlier records also document Sherman’s concerns about a public-information request in August 2025.

Finally, Manvel officials issued Traylor’s proposed termination notice on September 10, 2026.

Together, these events provide a timeline of internal disputes involving department leadership.

However, several questions remain unanswered.

The available records do not establish whether investigators substantiated the retaliation allegations.

They also do not explain who directed every public-information request.

Furthermore, the documents do not establish whether the separate complaints influenced Traylor’s departure.

Investigation continues

The Manvel police retaliation complaints provide another look at internal conflicts within the department.

They also raise questions about employee treatment, police association activities and department accountability.

However, allegations require evidence before anyone can establish wrongdoing.

Additional records may help explain how city officials investigated the complaints.

They may also clarify whether department leadership influenced the disputed public-information requests.

This investigation remains ongoing.

ChopperRose.com will continue examining public records and reporting verified developments involving Manvel Police Department leadership.

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