The Comal County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has revoked the commission of bailiff Roger Bianchi following an internal affairs investigation that revealed a pattern of insubordination, policy violations, and a final explosive confrontation inside the courthouse. The case, which culminated in Bianchi’s dismissal on February 19, 2025, has uncovered more than a personal dispute—it exposed deep structural problems within the courthouse security system, confusion over who supervises bailiffs, and troubling gaps in communication during emergencies.
While the final straw was a radio communication failure during a reported active threat at the courthouse, internal records show that Bianchi had been the subject of multiple previous complaints—including two citizen reports accusing him of “road rage” behavior while in uniform.
A Long Law Enforcement Career with a Troubled Record
Bianchi was first licensed as a Peace Officer in Texas on February 11, 1997, according to records from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). His law enforcement journey began in the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, where he held a jailer license from 1994 to 1997, followed by a brief appointment as a peace officer in early 1997.
He later served as a deputy with the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office for three years (1997–2000), and for a brief period with the Castle Hills Police Department in 2001. After years without a TCOLE appointment, Bianchi returned to public service in Comal County on April 5, 2018, where he served as a District Court Bailiff commissioned through CCSO until February 19, 2025, when his commission was revoked due to sustained misconduct findings.
Road Rage While in Uniform: Unanswered Complaints
Bianchi’s removal did not occur in a vacuum. Internal records reveal a troubling pattern of behavior that had raised red flags long before the January 2025 incident.
According to official memos, Bianchi was the subject of two separate citizen complaints for aggressive driving while wearing his CCSO deputy uniform and operating his personal vehicle. The first complaint was lodged on May 14, 2021, and the second followed on June 8, 2022. Both incidents were described as “road rage” encounters by members of the public who were unaware that the individual allegedly tailgating or confronting them was an off-duty law enforcement officer.
The second complaint was escalated to Steve Thomas, the District Court Coordinator, by Internal Affairs Lt. Mark Long in July 2022. However, records do not indicate what—if any—disciplinary action was taken, and subsequent documentation suggests additional complaints were received by the Sheriff’s Office but never formally investigated.
Moreover, Bianchi was written up in January 2023 for failing to confirm an arrest warrant through dispatch. When Courthouse Corporal Chris Gerhardt attempted to issue written counseling, Bianchi reportedly refused to sign the document and walked out of the session. He later returned and signed the acknowledgment but only after being urged to comply.
Flashpoint: The Courthouse Radio Incident
On January 30, 2025, an emergency incident unfolded in the Landa Annex, part of the Comal County courthouse complex. A suspect with a gun had reportedly fled New Braunfels police custody and entered the building. As the situation escalated, Bianchi—stationed in the 466th District Courtroom—received a call from dispatch but was unable to answer. He received no follow-up instructions.
Believing the courthouse might be under attack, Bianchi evacuated jurors and staff, a decision he later defended as life-saving. Once the threat was neutralized, Bianchi took to a group text and sent a now-infamous message:
“AGAIN, WHY AREN’T WE USING OUR DAMN RADIOS????”
That message, aimed at Courthouse Sergeant Chris Gerhardt and other security staff, was a reference to a long-running dispute over radio usage. Sgt. Gerhardt replied that the radios didn’t work in the annex. Bianchi challenged him:
“It does work. We have checked many times! Turn on your radios and use them like you’re supposed to!”
Bianchi and fellow bailiffs had tested the Motorola APX radios throughout the courthouse and annex. According to their accounts, the radios worked—but some CCSO personnel allegedly refused to turn them on. Instead, Gerhardt and others relied on WhatsApp, a private messaging app, to coordinate security—something Bianchi refused to participate in, citing privacy, legal, and policy concerns.
Supervision in Question: Who Commands the Courthouse?
One of the investigation’s most revealing aspects was the confusion over the chain of command.
Although Bianchi was a commissioned deputy of the Comal County Sheriff’s Office, he reported to Steve Thomas, the District Court Coordinator, and considered Thomas—not CCSO—to be his supervisor. That tension played out directly during the incident. When confronted by Sgt. Gerhardt for insubordination, Bianchi replied:
“You don’t talk to me. Call Steve and talk to him, but you don’t talk to me.”
A memo from Chief Deputy Jimmy Jones, dated January 9, 2023, had previously attempted to clarify the issue, stating:
“Anyone that wears a CCSO uniform, or is a commissioned deputy, will fall under all rules/policies and procedures of this Office. There are no exceptions for District Court/County Court Bailiffs.”
Yet that memo failed to resolve the practical division. Court-appointed bailiffs continued reporting to judicial coordinators, while still wearing CCSO uniforms—creating a dangerous gray area in accountability.
Hallway Confrontation and the Internal Affairs Probe
Shortly after the radio text, Sgt. Gerhardt confronted Bianchi in a public hallway outside the courtroom. Judge Stephanie Bascon and Court Reporter Frances Janezic witnessed the encounter. Janezic described Gerhardt as “obviously angry and frustrated” and said the scene was “alarming, unprofessional, and inappropriate.”
Judge Bascon reportedly intervened twice, urging the officers to move the discussion away from jurors and out of the hallway.
Internal Affairs opened an investigation on February 14, 2025, led by Lt. Michael Guerra. Bianchi refused to acknowledge the summons via email, failed to appear on time, and tried to bring Steve Thomas into the interview—something Guerra rejected as inappropriate for an internal personnel matter.
When Guerra attempted to read Bianchi the formal complaint, Bianchi interrupted, challenged the process, and refused to sign acknowledgment forms unless specific language was added. Guerra ultimately accepted his partial signature with a witness present.
Bianchi’s Defense: “I Should Be Given an Award”
In a detailed written response, Bianchi defended his conduct, arguing that his swift evacuation during the possible gunman incident likely saved lives. He accused courthouse security of gross negligence, failure to issue lockdowns, and relying on unofficial communication systems like WhatsApp instead of CCSO radios.
He wrote:
“I should be awarded many Life-Saving awards, Deputy of the Year award, and many other awards… Instead, I’m under a microscope because a grown man got his feelings hurt when I texted about the radios.”
He also described CCSO leadership as hypocritical:
“When you guys are pissed off at us, we work for you. When you’re not pissed off, we don’t work for you.”
Findings and Termination
Internal Affairs sustained every allegation against Bianchi.
Sheriff Mark W. Reynolds, in a formal notice, terminated Bianchi’s commission effective immediately. The sheriff wrote:
“I have lost all confidence in your ability to effectively perform your duties… due to your failure to adhere to policy and perform at the level of required professionalism.”
Fallout and Open Questions
Bianchi’s dismissal has created debate over the legal and operational ambiguity surrounding courthouse bailiffs in Comal County. The Sheriff’s Office has not stated whether it will audit the use of WhatsApp for security communications or revise the current supervisory model.
TCOLE records show that Bianchi’s Peace Officer License remains active, although he is no longer appointed with any law enforcement agency.
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