HUMBLE, Texas – The City of Humble says it has accepted and is processing the request for a police captain, who was already on paid administrative leave, to retire from the city’s police department, 2 Investigates confirms.
Captain Twyla Kimberlin has indicated to the city that “she wishes to retire from her position with the City. That request is approved and is being processed at this time,” according to Humble City Manager Jason Steube.
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Kimberlin had been on paid administrative leave since January, when city leaders indicated she was under investigation. That investigation came at the same time that the former police chief, Dan Zientek, was also facing an investigation of his own. Zientek ultimately resigned, two months after being put on administrative leave and more than seven months after he was promoted to chief and in the aftermath of a critical survey conducted by the city into Zientek’s department.
Immediately following Zientek’s appointment as chief last May, Kimberlin—who is the wife of the former police chief and was Zientek’s supervisor prior to his promotion—was promoted, according to city records. Kimberlin was promoted again just four months later, moving from the rank of sergeant to captain.
In January, 2 Investigates revealed city records showing Kimberlin received the largest share of travel and training expenditures within the department.
Documents show nearly $40,000 was spent on Kimberlin over the past two years—an amount that significantly exceeded any other employee.
Another officer 2 Investigates examined in recent months is Kevin Wolf. Wolf, who according to city records racked up nearly $15,000 in travel over the last two years, was hired even though he initially failed his “Background Investigation” according to a Humble Police Department letter from November of 2022.
The department told Wolf in writing he could no longer “continue the application process” and also made it clear “The results of your evaluation are considered confidential and cannot be discussed.”
However, 2 Investigates has learned from Stuebe in recent days that Wolf did speak with Humble PD leadership afterwards, “My understanding is, Wolf took the initiative, reached out to Zientek to inquire as to why he was rejected. Zientek took that to Theis, Theis looked at it and re-opened it and had a new background and a new board ran on him,” said Stuebe in an email who added, “It is not as if this is not some uncommon practice in nearly every work environment.”
Ken Theis is the former chief of the Humble Police Department that Zientek replaced. He is also the husband of Twyla Kimberlin.
The city manager also confirmed that between November 1, 2022 and February 1, 2026, 37 other applicants failed their background investigation. When we asked Stuebe how many of those applicants re-applied and were hired by Humble PD, the answer was zero. Wolf was the only one.
Back in January, the city manager stated those concerns were “fully and satisfactorily explained by the department” and that the city is “not inclined to reverse that hiring decision at this time.” However, this was again before we had learned that 37 other applicants also failed their background checks, but never ended up being hired by Humble PD because they never reapplied after the city told them the hiring process for them was over.
One final note, former Chief Zientek racked up the second-highest amount of travel and training expenses at nearly $20,000 over the last two years.