Former Brownwood Police Chief Ed Kading was arrested on Friday, Sept. 5 in Tom Green County on charges of filing a false report to a peace officer and failing to comply with duties upon striking a structure or fixture on a highway involving damages over $200, classified as Class B misdemeanors.
Kading, 55, retired from the Brownwood Police Department, effective on June 6, 2025.
According to the Tom Green County jail logs posted on conchovalleyhomepage.com, Kading was booked at 7:21 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5 and released at 10:32 a.m. the same day. Bond was set at $5,000.
The Texas Department of Public Safety provided the following information to BrownwoodNews.com on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept 10:
“On June 1, 2025 at approximately 7:30 p.m., the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a hit-and-run crash at County Road 229 (CR 229) and Farm to Market Road 586 (FM 586). During the investigation, physical evidence at the scene led investigators to a possible suspect vehicle. Authorities located a silver Ford F-150 pickup truck with fresh damage matching the evidence found at the crash site. The vehicle’s owner, Richard Edward Kading, was contacted; however, he denied being the driver at the time of the incident and provided vague information, hindering the investigation. Investigators later obtained a warrant for Kading’s cell phone data, which confirmed he was operating the vehicle during the collision. Kading intentionally provided false information to law enforcement and failed to fulfill his duty as a driver after striking a fixture on the highway. As a result, an arrest warrant was issued for Kading, citing charges related to the crash. On Friday, Sept. 5, at 7:21 a.m., Kading surrendered himself to the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office. He is charged with filing a false report to a peace officer and failing to comply with duties upon striking a structure or fixture on a highway involving damages over $200, classified as Class B misdemeanors. This investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are pending.”
Brownwood City Manager Marshal McIntosh said of Kading’s retirement in an email to BrownwoodNews.com on June 11, “The City of Brownwood received the resignation and retirement notice of Police Chief Edward Kading, the notice was effective immediately on June 6, 2025. Assistant Chief James Fuller has been named Interim Chief of Police for the Brownwood Police Department.”
Kading told BrownwoodNews.com also on June 11, “After almost 33 years in law enforcement, it is time for me to focus on my health, my family, and the next chapter in life. The City of Brownwood, and the Brownwood Police Department are in great, capable hands. I cannot thank this city enough for the awesome opportunity and life they have given me. I look forward to being a resident for years to come.”