Fort Worth Police Chief Jeffrey Halstead says a police executive has been removed from his office after an arrest over the weekend on suspicion of drunken driving.
Maj. Paul Henderson was arrested in Parker County early Saturday morning.
In a news conference Tuesday, Halstead said accountability in the department starts at the top, with him, and that Henderson is being removed from his position as chief of staff.
"I am extremely disappointed that we are once again discussing this type of behavior involving one of our employees, especially a police executive," said Halstead. "Effective immediately, I will reclassify Paul Henderson to the rank of captain. I will remove him from the chief's office. He will have no oversight of the current programs or projects when he was assigned as chief of staff for my administration."
Halstead said Henderson will be reassigned Dec. 8 to the Support Bureau Community Programs Division in an administrative capacity through the duration of an internal affairs investigation. Henderson's salary is also being reduced to be in line with his reduced rank and responsibilities.
Once the investigation is complete, if formal discipline is recommended, it will be administered at that time, Halstead said.
"It should be very clear that everyone in this organization is held accountable and it is my leadership style that the higher your rank in this department, the higher the accountability. This is true with my position as well," Halstead said. "I have never tolerated this behavior in the past and I will make it very clear I will never tolerate this in the future."
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The Support Bureau, Community Programs Division Captain oversees the Community Volunteer Program, the School Security Intiative and Jail Operations among others.
More than two years ago the Fort Worth Police Department instituted an Alcohol Awareness Program to train all officers about stress management, resources and how to identify alcohol problems with others. Fort Worth police says all officers, including Henderson, received that training. Only new recruits have yet to go through the process.
In addition to demoting Henderson, Halstead said he will leave the position of major vacant and may consider restructuring the position in his office. Halstead also said he may hire a civilian to direct the department's public affairs and marketing program.
