A Dallas police officer who was recently accused of domestic violence will not be charged. A grand jury has decided not to indict the officer, who was arrested for felony assault family violence after being involved in an allegedly violent argument with his girlfriend at his home this spring. The officer has been placed on indefinite administrative leave.
The officer has a history of offenses in and out of the workplace. He has been cited more than 10 times for driving violations and was disciplined several times in his former job as a corrections officer. He was charged with giving a false name in 1990 and was sentenced to six months of probation. He was also arrested on charges related to misdemeanor assault in 1990, but was not charged.
The officer was hired by the Dallas Police Department in 1999. The next year, he was investigated for reportedly threatening a woman after he believed she damaged his car. He was not charged in relation to the incident and was eventually exonerated. He has also received two suspensions, one in 2001 for taking sick leave without verification from a doctor and another in 2002 for misleading a superior officer and ignoring several calls.
The officer has defended himself, arguing that some of the accusations against him were unfair. He has not yet responded to the recent domestic violence case.
Although the officer in this case was not indicted for domestic violence, it should not downplay the seriousness of such allegations. Domestic violence is a very real problem in Dallas and throughout the state. It is important that those who are victims of domestic violence feel that they can come forward and be protected. Experienced Dallas family law attorneys are well-versed in the laws surrounding family violence.
Source: The Dallas Morning News, “Grand jury declines to indict Dallas officer on domestic violence allegation,” Tanya Eiserer, 13 July 2011