A New Braunfels fire captain has been suspended after an internal investigation concluded he harassed a subordinate officer, repeatedly undermined his authority, and failed to uphold professional standards expected of a senior leader in the department.

The decision, issued January 21, 2025, by Fire Chief Ruy Lozano, came in response to an October 2024 confrontation between Captain Jack Ward and Lieutenant Benjamin Hickman at Station 7. Ward will serve an eight-day suspension without pay, equivalent to four 24-hour shifts, beginning January 29 .

A Call That Spiraled Into Conflict

The investigation centered on an October 8, 2024 EMS call to a skilled nursing facility. Hickman, assigned as the Medical Officer of Fire (MOF), self-dispatched to the scene. Ward, already on site with his crew, checked with the lead medic, who told him additional help wasn’t required. Ward then canceled Hickman’s response over the radio.

But Hickman continued to the facility non-emergency. Witnesses recalled visible tension as Ward stood at the doorway, insisting Hickman remain back, even tugging on his shirt to pull him away from the patient. When the patient was loaded into the ambulance and multiple responders crowded inside, Ward made a pointed remark from the doorway: “Do you need any more nurses back there?” .

Behind Station Doors

The confrontation continued back at Station 7. Ward summoned Hickman into the apparatus bay for a private discussion. What began as a debate over the MOF role quickly escalated. Ward accused Hickman of inserting himself into calls unnecessarily and suggested his actions were deliberate.

At one point, Ward told Hickman:

“If I find out you had any malicious intent, you will meet a Jack Ward you have never met before. Hell hath no fury like him.”

Hickman later reported the exchange left him uneasy enough that he stayed away from the station until later that night.

Witnesses Describe Ongoing Friction

Though firefighters differed on whether the October 8 clash was extraordinary or typical “firehouse banter,” many acknowledged long-standing friction between Ward and Hickman.

Accounts described Ward regularly criticizing Hickman’s decisions in front of others, including jokes about station equipment being interrupted whenever Hickman “jumped” a call. Several crew members confirmed Ward expressed the view that Hickman self-assigned to incidents too frequently, sometimes to the point of disrupting normal operations.

Others, however, acknowledged Hickman was known to respond to certain facilities because of prior issues with patient transfers and staff. Some saw his actions as conscientious; Ward saw them as disruptive.

What united the testimony was recognition that the working environment at Station 7 had become strained, with Hickman at times avoiding the station altogether to sidestep conflict.

Policies Violated

Assistant Chief Matt Bushnell, who led the inquiry, concluded that Ward’s conduct violated multiple city and departmental policies, including:

• Harassment and bullying: for repeated, public criticism of Hickman’s work as MOF.
• Failure to maintain composure: for emotional outbursts and sarcastic comments during and after the call.
• Discourtesy and lack of respect: for undermining a fellow officer’s role and responsibilities .

The report emphasized that while Ward did not act with malicious intent, his position as a senior officer amplified the harm of his words and actions. Bushnell noted Ward “failed to realize the weight his words and actions carry with a newly promoted officer.”

Ward himself admitted he “screwed up” and said his words came from emotion rather than intent to threaten .

Chief Lozano’s Decision

Chief Lozano reviewed the investigation and Ward’s statements before imposing discipline. His suspension order stressed that accountability and professionalism are non-negotiable in the department:

“The purpose of disciplinary action is to change behavior,” Lozano wrote. “Future instances of unprofessional conduct or behavior will result in further disciplinary action, up to and including indefinite suspension.”

In addition to the eight-day suspension, Ward will be placed on a professional development training plan designed to reinforce leadership and communication expectations .

Broader Lessons for Station 7

The investigation also highlighted structural issues that extend beyond Ward. Bushnell’s report noted ambiguity in the MOF role and its relationship to incident command authority — confusion that contributed to friction on the ground.

Bushnell recommended clarifying those lines of authority and stressed that Ward should have used the chain of command to address his concerns rather than confronting Hickman directly.

The findings also acknowledged outside stressors — from the call volume at the newly opened Station 7 to ongoing punch list construction challenges — as potential factors that worsened tensions.

Looking Ahead

Ward remains employed by the City of New Braunfels, with Chief Lozano calling him a “valuable member” of the department. But the case serves as a cautionary moment: a reminder that in a high-stakes environment like firefighting, leadership lapses can quickly erode trust and morale.

The suspension signals that while the city is willing to support its officers through training and development, it expects professionalism, respect, and composure to remain at the core of its fire service.

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