Highland Village fire chief resigns after arrest

Highland Village Fire Chief Jason Collier resigned June 15, two days after he was arrested by the Denton County Sheriff's Office.

What you need to know

Collier was arrested on charges of solicitation of prostitution and resisting arrest, according to a statement from the city of Highland Village, which notes the Denton County Sheriff's Office is investigating the matter. Collier was released on $1,500 bail June 14, according to the Denton County Jail.

He had been chief of the fire department since 2022 and was assistant chief from 2008 to 2022, said Laurie Mullens, director of marketing and communications for the city. He has been in the fire service for more than 35 years, according to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

What else?

Fourteen people, including Collier, were arrested in the Denton County Sheriff's Office operation, and several other police agencies, including the Argyle Police Department, assisted in the investigation, a sheriff’s office release notes. Solicitation of prostitution is a state jail felony, the release states.

City officials became aware of Collier’s arrest on June 13, and Collier was placed on administrative leave, Mullens said. Two days later, he resigned and is no longer employed by the city, the release states.

Assistant Chief Kevin Gosselin has been named interim chief, Mullens said.