August 28th, 2009
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission fired three agents who were involved in the June 28 raid on the Rainbow Lounge in Ft. Worth, Texas. That raid left bar patron Chad Gibson seriously injured with bleeding on the brain, following rough treatment by TABC and Ft. Worth police officers who slammed Gibson against the wall and onto a brick floor.
TABC announced that they fired Agent Christopher Aller, Agent Trainee Jason Chapman and Sgt. Terry Parsons this morning. Alan and Chapman accompanied Ft. Worth police officers on the night of the raid. Two others were disciplined. They were Capt. Robert “Charlie” Cloud, who oversaw the Dallas and Ft. Worth TABC offices, and Lt. Gene Anderson, who was Sgt. Parsons’ direct supervisor. Cloud received a written reprimand and Anderson was suspended without pay for three days and placed on six month’s probation.
TABC also made some administrative changes and instituted new training requirements beginning January 2010. A separate TABC investigation into the issue of the agents’ excessive use of force is still ongoing.
Last month, TABC administrator Alan Steen apologized for the agency’s role in the raid and blasted his agents for falling to “follow the damn policy.” Ft. Worth police have suspended joint operations with TABC and have announced policy changesto deal with bar checks in the future. FWPD’s internal investigation is continuing.
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Priya Lynn
August 28th, 2009
Sounds like they’re making a sincere effort to make this right.
Richard W. Fitch
August 28th, 2009
Sgt Parsons had already announced his ‘retirement’ at the outset of the investigations. Trainee Chapman is out, with no recourse. The remaining agent, Aller, can appeal. He is the most controversial of the three, having been involved in other actions gone awry. The outcome of the ‘Use of Force’ rpt will probably not be available until after his appeal period has expired. At that time there may be a second judgment against him. All things considered, the TABC has acted with both responsibility and expediency. The FWPD has yet to disclose any of its findings. Any discrepencies between the rpts of the two units will be highly suspect.
Lindoro Almaviva
August 28th, 2009
Wow, I am glad to note that my suspicions were wrong and I am eati9ng my words.
Timothy Kincaid
August 28th, 2009
I am so very pleased. Far too often the police protect their own regardless of misconduct; we’ve come to expect it.
Such punishment goes far to break down the cynicism about those who wear a badge and those who are assigned to monitor them.
Burr
August 28th, 2009
Finally some accountability.
paul j stein
August 29th, 2009
Now that they are fired it opens the doors for legal action without professional immunity applied. Go for their pensions, personal property.
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