After admitting to having a sexual relationship with a female police officer, Rick Hatler, UTM police chief and Department of Public Safety director, has submitted his resignation from employment at UTM.

Hatler, 55, who joined Public Safety in 1999 from the City of Dallas Police Department, told Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Al Hooten he had an “inappropriate relationship” with Officer Janet Copeland, 38, in mid-July.

Hooten and the Office of Finance and Administration oversees Public Safety’s operations.

Copeland, now pregnant, joined the UTM police force in December 2005. She previously worked from 1992 to 1995 as a security guard and for Parking and Security.

“What happened was the failure of humankind as usual,” Hooten said, referring to Hatler’s behavior. “We decided (the relationship) would compromise his ability to lead the office, and we thought it would be better for him to resign.”

Hatler tendered his resignation letter to Hooten July 28, effective Aug. 31. In the letter, Hatler said, “My resignation is being tendered so that I may pursue other opportunities.”

He added his tenure with Public Safety was a pleasant experience.

After agreeing to leave the university, Hatler asked Hooten for some time to find a new position, which Hooten granted. Hatler has been on paid administrative leave since tendering his resignation letter, so as to not “hurt the morale of the officers” and to give Hatler an opportunity to seek other employment, Hooten said.

While on leave, he will receive nearly $5,000 in regular salary.

Until Hooten names a replacement, UTM Police Capt. Ray Coleman, assistant director of Public Safety, will work as acting director.

While there is no university policy against relationships among staff members, Hooten said police department employees should be held to a higher standard.

“In the police department, we have to handle cases where young women are raped and harassed, and there’s a higher expectation for a person in that office than it would be in another office,” Hooten said. “Rick (Hatler) recognized that. ... He realized it was a failure on his part.”

While Hooten did not offer a reason for Hatler’s behavior, he did cite Hatler’s March 21 divorce from Elizabeth K. Hatler as a cause of emotional stress.

Hooten said Copeland would not be penalized for the relationship. In contrast, he praised her ability as a police officer.

“She is very talented,” he said. “She is fully certified. She’s a great person and (has) done a good job.”

Hooten added he hopes Copeland will continue working as a UTM police officer after giving birth, though her duties would have to be modified as her pregnancy progresses. He said Copeland is still undecided about whether she will return to UTM after giving birth.

Neither Hatler nor Copeland responded to repeated phone messages requesting comment.

Sources close to The Pacer said Copeland felt intimidated after Hatler told her to keep their relationship private. The Pacer learned Copeland then went to Coleman and Public Safety Lt. Darrell Simmons, who took her complaint to university administrators.

Despite her concern, Copeland did not file sexual harassment complaint against Hatler.

Ann Duncan, director of the Office of Equity and Diversity, which handles sexual harassment charges, said she spoke with both parties, but no formal grievance was filed.

“It was handled in the office and was more or less unofficial,” Duncan said. “They just came in and talked about the issue. There was no mediation. They were two colleagues who had a disagreement.”

Duncan declined further comment, citing confidentiality concerns. UTM Chancellor Nick Dunagan also declined comment on the matter, saying only Coleman is managing Public Safety professionally.

Shortly, Hooten will form a search committee to find Hatler’s replacement. The committee would probably be small and have a regional scope, though a timeline for naming a new director is not yet in place, Hooten said.