During a special City Council meeting May 23, McKinney City Council members passed a censure and resolution expressing disapproval of Council Member La’Shadion Shemwell’s behavior during a recent arrest. A censure expresses severe disapproval. Shemwell was arrested May 8 for allegedly speeding and failing to report a change of address or name, according to Collin County jail records. The resolution, with an amended motion made by Shemwell, passed 6-1 as Council Member Charlie Philips abstained. Philips said he declined to vote because, as a lawyer, he believes a decision should be reserved for the judicial system. The amended motion removed the word “improperly” from the resolution. According to city documents, the resolution now reads as follows: “On May 8, 2018, Council member La’Shadion Shemwell directed a city employee/police officer to contact his department head, incident to a traffic stop in which Council member Shemwell was the subject, such direction being in contravention to Section 30(a) of the Charter…” Section 30 A of the Charter says, “neither the City Council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any of the subordinances of the City Manager … either publically or privately by any form of communication.” According to city documents, Shemwell directed a “city employee/police officer” to contact his department head and that at the traffic stop, Shemwell “displayed uncooperative and argumentative behavior.” City documents go on to say while Shemwell has expressed some regrets for his actions, council still finds it necessary to reinforce that this behavior is not acceptable for an elected official. During the May 15 meeting, Shemwell, who said he plans to take his traffic ticket to court, said he will continue to serve on council and continue to lead. He also said he should have handled the situation better. Mayor George Fuller said he looks forward to getting back to business the council was elected to do. “We will, as a council, put this behind us and work together for the greatest good of McKinney,” Fuller said during the May 15 meeting. “With regards to the racial divide discussion, that discussion deserves to be had on its own merit across the country for that matter.”