FORT WORTH — Paul Henderson, former chief of staff for Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead, was fired Thursday following an internal affairs investigation into his December arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, his attorney has confirmed to the Star-Telegram. “I’ll be filing Paul’s indefinite suspension appeal tomorrow,” said Craig Driskell, his attorney with the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas.
Henderson, who had already been demoted from major to captain and stripped of his chief of staff position shortly after his Dec. 1 arrest, was informed of the chief’s decision during a meeting Thursday afternoon.
“As chief, I will not tolerate egregious misconduct from any employee, especially from an executive in my administration,” Halstead said Thursday.
Halstead said the internal investigation sustained allegations that Henderson violated general and/or special orders when he drove under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, became intoxicated while off-duty, and brought unjustified, unfavorable criticism on himself and the department by his arrest.
“Public trust is the foundation of public safety,” Halstead said. “The chief of police is expected to hold all employees accountable for their actions, on or off duty, regardless of rank, tenure, or position. This is the result of our investigation.” ((BAM!!! Right there!!!))
Henderson’s attorney said he believes Halstead’s decision contradicts statements the chief had made at a Jan. 3 press conference.
At the press conference, which followed the latest in a string of arrests of Fort Worth officers accused of DWI, Halstead announced that - beginning that day - he would automatically fire any officer subsequently arrested for DWI if internal affairs investigators sustained the allegation.
He said he also would no longer wait for a drunken-driving case to make its way through the criminal justice system before dishing out his discipline.
For legal reasons, Halstead said, officers whose punishment was already pending, which included Henderson, would still be handled case by case.