Records released this year show a New Braunfels Fire Department lieutenant was initially recommended for demotion after city investigators found he threatened a fellow firefighter, used derogatory language and launched into personal attacks during a dispute connected to Kerrville flood response. The case involved Lieutenant John Weige and Engineer Robert Garcia, whose exchange began after a post was made on the New Braunfels Fire Department Association Facebook page about the Kerrville flood. According to city records, Garcia made comments questioning whether some members were being deployed for monetary gain. What followed, however, went far beyond a disagreement over disaster response and became a documented internal affairs case involving threats, religion-based insults, workplace bullying, harassment findings and concerns about racial language.

The Facebook post attributed to Weige is blunt and disturbing. Addressing Garcia directly, Weige wrote, “really. Now you crossed the line you retarded fuck. I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS FOR THE MONEY.” He then escalated the post into a threat, writing, “I hope we settle this before I come to your little run down house and beat your ass.” Weige continued, “Talk a lot of shit on here, I will answer will big old white boy ass whopping,” before turning to Garcia’s personal life and religion, writing, “Let’s get personal and talk about your pathetic life. Mr. Catholic, been married twice, have zero fucking friends, other than freaks like yourself. Have a good night and pathetic life.”

Text Message Followed the Public Threat

The records also include a text message exchange that investigators treated as part of the evidence. At 4:58 p.m. on July 5, Weige sent Garcia another threatening message, writing, “We are done. Insult me with your keyboard one more time and I will drive other there and kick your fucking ass.” Garcia responded, “See you at work Sir,” followed by, “It’s only an insult if it’s true.” That exchange became important because Garcia later told investigators he feared Weige might act on the threats, especially because the two still worked in the same department and later shared a 24-hour shift at Station 2. 

The investigation found Weige made threats of physical harm toward a lower-ranking department member and used derogatory language referencing Garcia’s religion and personal life. Investigators also cited the public nature of the Facebook exchange, noting the remarks occurred in front of an audience of fellow employees on the Association Facebook page. 

Complaint Raised Concerns About Violence, Race, Religion and Disability

According to the internal investigation, Assistant Human Resources Director Lindsay Cox notified Fire Chief Ruy Lozano on July 17, 2025, that Garcia wished to file a formal complaint against Weige. Cox’s email said Garcia provided screenshots from the Association Facebook page and a text message from Weige. The email stated both exhibits mentioned a threat of physical violence from Weige and that Garcia and another redacted person were concerned Weige might show up at their personal residence or carry out the threat while at work. The same email also said Garcia expressed concern about statements referencing disability, religion and race coming from a New Braunfels Fire Department supervisor.  

The city’s investigation sustained findings under harassment-free workplace policy sections involving discrimination, harassment and workplace bullying. It also sustained findings under civil service rules involving discourtesy to a fellow employee, including remarks tied to racial, religious, sexist or ethnic slurs and remarks. 

Weige Admitted Sending the Messages, Investigator Says

Captain Anthony Pitzer, who conducted the administrative investigation, wrote that Weige confirmed during a July 30 interview that he posted the Facebook comment and sent the text message to Garcia.  According to the report, Weige said he did not intent to follow through with the threat of physical harm. He said Garcia’s comments triggered images in his mind of women and children being swept downriver during the flood, and the investigator noted Weige became emotional and was physically shaking while describing that. Weige also said he regretted making the threats and said his biggest regret was losing a friendship of more than 30 years. 

Garcia, however, told investigators he and another redacted person were afraid Weige would act on the threats. The report says Garcia considered filing for a restraining order, but did not continue after realizing the process would be harder and more time consuming than expected. Garcia also told investigators he later worked with Weige at Station 2 during a 24-hour shift several days after the incident. According to Garcia, there was no confrontation during that shift, and the two essentially ignored each other. 

Multiple Findings Were Sustained

The internal investigation sustained several allegations against Weige. Investigators found he violated city policy on improper conduct by making threats of physical harm to a lower-ranking member of the fire department and using derogatory language referencing Garcia’s religion and personal life. The city also found he violated harassment-free workplace policy provisions covering discrimination, harassment and workplace bullying. Investigators noted workplace bullying can include conduct in front of an audience of fellow employees, and they specifically referenced the Association Facebook page as the setting for the cyberbullying finding. 

The report also found Weige violated the New Braunfels Fire Department policy manual’s motto and core values. Those values included integrity, respect, pride, accountability and humility, and the motto cited in the report was “Be Nice, Be Professional.” Additional sustained findings included discourtesy to a fellow employee, conduct prejudicial to good order, making a threat of a violent act and violating department rules, regulations or procedures. At the same time, some allegations were not sustained, including one tied to the fire lieutenant job description because the interaction occurred while Weige was off duty, and a workplace violence prevention allegation because the policy required the conduct to occur in or around city facilities while on duty. 

Demotion Was on the Table

The disciplinary process did not initially end with a short suspension. Records prepared for the New Braunfels Fire Fighters’ and Police Officers’ Civil Service Commission show Fire Chief Ruy Lozano recommended demoting Weige from Fire Lieutenant to Engineer. A commission meeting was scheduled for Nov. 7, 2025, to decide whether probable cause existed to proceed to an evidentiary hearing regarding that recommended demotion. Civil Service Director Becca Miears told commissioners the hearing was not a full demotion hearing or an appeal, but only a threshold determination under Chapter 143.054 of the Texas Local Government Code. Commissioners were instructed to consider only the “four corners” of the chief’s notice and decide whether the stated facts, presumed true, were sufficient to move the demotion process forward.  

The commission materials stated there would be no testimony, witnesses or evidence presented at that probable cause stage. If commissioners found no probable cause, the chief’s recommendation would be denied and Weige would retain his position. If they found probable cause, the matter would be scheduled for a full hearing to determine whether Weige should actually be demoted. The records also note that Weige would then have the right to choose whether the demotion hearing would be held before the Civil Service Commission or an independent third-party hearing examiner.  

Settlement Replaced Demotion With Suspension

The final outcome was not demotion. A later settlement agreement states the fire chief had recommended an involuntary demotion and that the Civil Service Commission found probable cause on Nov. 7, 2025. The same agreement states Weige appealed the involuntary demotion recommendation. Instead of continuing through a full demotion hearing, the city and Weige reached a settlement that withdrew the recommended demotion and replaced it with a suspension. 

The suspension notice, dated Dec. 11, 2025, shows Weige was suspended for eight days, the equivalent of 96 hours, without pay and benefits. The suspension began at 7 a.m. on Dec. 13, 2025, and ended at 7 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2025. The settlement agreement also required documents related to the recommended demotion and appeal to be removed from Weige’s Civil Service Director file, while the notice of suspension would be placed in that file instead. That means the case that began with a demotion recommendation over threats, slurs and sustained harassment-related findings ultimately ended with a temporary unpaid suspension. 

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