New Braunfels Officer Suspended Again as Fraud Report Revives Prior Credibility Concerns
New Braunfels Officer Beverly Fraga was suspended again after marking “NO” for prosecution without asking whether a fraud victim wanted charges pursued. The chief did not find intentional dishonesty, but sustained other violations.
Brownsville Police Investigator Suspended After Missing Warrant Check on Registered Sex Offender
Brownsville Police Investigator Selene Silva received a one-day unpaid suspension after a wanted registered sex offender passed through the department’s registration process without a warrant check. Another agency arrested the individual the following day.
New Braunfels Officer Fired After Sexual Texts and On-Duty Visit to Woman’s Home
New Braunfels Police fired Tyler D. Palacios after an internal investigation documented sexual messages, an intentionally unrecorded post-stop conversation and a uniformed visit in a marked patrol vehicle to collect a gift from a woman whose federal criminal matter he had discussed. The termination came months after a judge refused to dismiss most claims against Palacios and two other officers in an unrelated civil-rights lawsuit.
SAPD Officer Fired After Six Red Lights, Patrol-Car Crash and False Account
An SAPD Officer Rafael Morado was fired after department records say he sped through six red lights, rear-ended another patrol unit and left the collision unreported for nearly two weeks. When supervisors discovered the damage, investigators said the officer’s explanation did not match video captured by the patrol vehicle.
Brownsville Officer Suspended After Using Trusted Driver to Obtain Woman’s Phone Number
Brownsville Police Officer Victor Mendez received a three-day unpaid suspension after the department found he used the Trusted Driver citation system to obtain a woman’s phone number following a traffic stop. Police said he later met with her while on duty without a legitimate law-enforcement reason.
Former Llano Police Officer Fired, Arrested on Three Family Violence Charges
Former Llano police officer Steven Webster Patin of Kingsland was fired after an internal inquiry into an alleged off-duty domestic violence incident prompted a Texas Rangers investigation. Patin was later jailed on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, continuous violence against the family and assault by impeding breath or circulation, with bonds totaling $225,000.
Former UT System Officer Arrested in Schertz on Public Servant Impersonation Charge
A former UT System police officer was arrested in Schertz after allegedly flashing a gold badge and threatening police action against a resident. Justin Wayne Reed’s peace officer license remains active, although state records show no agency service after 2019.
Brownsville Officer Suspended After Alleged Fourth Amendment Violation During Traffic Stop
A Brownsville police officer was suspended without pay after an internal investigation found he violated a driver’s Fourth Amendment rights during a traffic stop by allegedly conditioning a search on whether the driver would receive a citation. Although the department sustained the allegations and imposed discipline, the officer remains actively licensed and employed with the Brownsville Police Department.
SAPD Officer Left Mental Health Detainee Alone; Stolen Gun Later Discovered
An Internal Affairs investigation found that an SAPD officer left a man detained during a mental health crisis unattended for approximately 30 minutes without searching his belongings. After the man was transported to a hospital, security personnel discovered a stolen firearm inside his bag. Investigators also concluded the officer’s written report did not accurately reflect what was captured on body-worn camera footage, resulting in a 30-day unpaid suspension.
Cibolo Detective Admitted Kicking Coworker Multiple Times; Lieutenant Demoted Over Response
A female detective said Joshua Apgar repeatedly tickled her at her desk, commented on her buttocks, discussed the lack of sex in his marriage and kicked her in the buttocks five or six times—including once in front of Guadalupe County deputies. Apgar admitted the repeated kicks and sexual conversation but called the physical contact “horseplay.” After Lt. John Wells said he ordered Apgar to stop touching her, Apgar acknowledged kicking her again, leaving her feeling unsafe and later crying at work. An investigator found the conduct met the elements of assault and recommended termination, while the police chief demoted Wells for failing to report the original complaint and called one of his official statements “untruthful.” Today, Apgar works in investigations for the Guadalupe County Fire Marshal’s Office, while Wells oversees safety and security at Marion ISD.