The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) last month voted to revoke the peace officer and jailer licenses of Christopher M. Gessner, a former Bulverde Police Department officer, following a contested administrative case tied to a family-violence-related criminal conviction.

The revocation, effective December 15, 2025, followed a Proposal for Decision issued by the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) on October 29, 2025, which found that Gessner’s conviction required mandatory revocation under Texas law. The Commission adopted that recommendation at its December meeting, formally ending Gessner’s eligibility to serve in any law-enforcement capacity in Texas.

Domestic Incident and Criminal Case

The administrative enforcement action stems from an incident that occurred on August 8, 2020, when officers with the New Braunfels Police Department responded to a disturbance call at Gessner’s residence. According to evidence summarized in the SOAH decision, officers were told that Gessner pushed his wife, kicked her leg causing a visible red mark, and threw vodka at her during the altercation.

At the time of the incident, the victim was Gessner’s spouse and a member of his household, placing the conduct within the statutory definition of family violence under Texas law. A criminal complaint was filed on February 11, 2021, charging Gessner with Assault Causing Bodily Injury – Family Violence, a Class A misdemeanor, in Guadalupe County. The case remained pending for more than a year. On October 5, 2022, Gessner entered a guilty plea to the reduced offense of Assault by Contact, a Class C misdemeanor. Judgment was signed on October 10, 2022. He was assessed a $100 fine payable to a family violence center.

Why a Class C Conviction Still Triggered Revocation

Although the final conviction was for a Class C misdemeanor and did not include the words “family violence” in the offense title, the administrative law judge found that the underlying facts controlled the licensing outcome. Under 37 Texas Administrative Code § 223.19(c), TCOLE is required to revoke a peace officer’s license upon conviction for any offense involving family violence, regardless of offense level. The judge concluded that because the assault was committed against a spouse, the conviction met the statutory and regulatory definition of family violence and left the Commission with no discretion to impose a lesser sanction. In her written findings, the judge rejected arguments that the reduced plea insulated Gessner from licensing consequences, noting that the conviction arose from admitted conduct against a family member and therefore triggered mandatory revocation.

Continued Employment as a Peace Officer

Despite the October 2022 conviction, licensing and employment records show that Gessner continued working as a full-time peace officer with the Bulverde Police Department until September 6, 2024, nearly two years after judgment was entered in his criminal case. The SOAH decision confirms that Gessner served as a Bulverde police officer from September 2019 through September 2024. During that time, his peace officer license remained active while the TCOLE enforcement process worked its way through the administrative system.

Testimony of Bulverde Police Chief Gary Haecker

At the contested hearing before SOAH, Bulverde Police Chief Gary Haecker testified on Gessner’s behalf and spoke favorably about his performance as an officer. Chief Haecker acknowledged that Gessner was experiencing personal issues related to his marriage and stated that those issues at times “bled” into his work. However, after reviewing the New Braunfels police report, Haecker testified that he did not believe the incident warranted removing Gessner from duty while the criminal case was pending.

Haecker told the administrative law judge that he advised Gessner to stay away from his wife and to fight the charge, believing there was insufficient evidence to support the original accusation. He further testified that he considered Gessner to be a good officer who understood the law and how to enforce it. The administrative law judge considered that testimony but emphasized that personal assessments by agency leadership cannot override mandatory revocation requirements imposed by statute and TCOLE rule.

Licensing History and Final Revocation

TCOLE records show that Gessner worked for multiple agencies during his law-enforcement career, including the Comal County Sheriff’s Office and the Bulverde Police Department, serving as both a jailer and a peace officer. His peace officer license, originally granted in 2019, was later marked inactive and ultimately revoked. His jailer license was also revoked on December 15, 2025, rendering him not currently eligible for appointment in any Texas law-enforcement position. Under TCOLE rules, a revoked license cannot be reinstated unless the underlying conviction is overturned or otherwise legally negated.

Request for Records and Delayed Release

After TCOLE voted to revoke Gessner’s licenses at its December 2025 meeting, The Hawk’s Eye submitted a public-records request to TCOLE seeking the SOAH Proposal for Decision in the case. Under the Texas Public Information Act, the document should have been released within ten business days. Instead, the record was not produced until January 23, 2026. As of publication, no explanation has been provided for the delay between the request and the release of the document.

---

---

Disclaimer

The content provided in this publication is for educational and informational purposes only. The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News strives to deliver accurate and impactful stories. However, readers are advised to seek professional legal counsel and guidance for their specific legal inquiries and concerns. The publication does not assume any responsibility for actions taken by individuals based on the information presented. 

Additionally, while every effort is made to ensure the reliability of the information, the publication does not warrant the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the content. Readers are encouraged to verify any legal information with official sources and to use their discretion when interpreting and applying the information provided.

A Couple of Our Other Reads

You may be interested in our publishing about a Texas judge filing a lawsuit over same-sex wedding refusals.

Or you may find our publishing on a TABC agent receiving a stipend for a degree he didn’t hold, of interest.

Follow Us on Social Media

If you are interested in staying updated on matters about your government in Texas and other important stories, trust The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News to provide reliable information that matters to you. You can follow us on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, Reddit, YouTube, Tumblr, and LinkedIn to stay connected and informed.

FACEBOOK: TheHawksEyeNews
INSTAGRAM: Hawk_s_Eye_C_and_N
X: TheHawksEyeNews
REDDIT: TheHawksEyeCN
YOUTUBE: The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News
TUMBLR: The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News
LINKEDIN: The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News

---