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FORT WORTH, TX -
It was a raid and alleged abuse that gained national attention: the descent of the TABC and the Fort Worth Police Department on the Rainbow Lounge. Today, the City of Fort Worth released the names of five of the officers involved in the June 28th incident at the gay bar that left one man hospitalized.
Officers Jason Back, Kerry Gober, Michael Marquez and Jason Moss have clean disciplinary records. Officer J.R. Ricks does not.
Records show he has been suspended more than once, including repeatedly working off-duty jobs without authorization. And on May 25, 2006, then Police Chief Ralph Mendoza suspended Ricks for three days, citing neglect of duty. It stemmed from a February 2006 Tasing incident in which Officer Ricks cleared the call without notifying a supervisor that "he lost a city-issued Taser cartridge," that "he had utilized his Taser" and "to complete a report regarding the use of force during the incident."
In September 2006, documents show chief Mendoza suspended Ricks for 16 days, for a July 2006 fight in New Braunfels. Ricks was off-duty, arrested for punching a bus driver who was trying to break up a fight. Documents also show, two superior officers had recommended Ricks be given an indefinite suspension.
Police department spokesperson Sergeant Chad Mahaffey said the department wouldn't go on camera today, adding "The Rainbow Lounge investigation is open and ongoing. And because of the open and ongoing status, it's not appropriate for me to provide commentary on the investigation right now."
The manager of the Rainbow Lounge also didn't want to speak tonight, saying he was just getting the information from a detective. But bar patron Kevin Williams says he can't believe an officer with this past would be be allowed to stay on the force, wondering where else this could be happening.
Officers Jason Back, Kerry Gober, Michael Marquez and Jason Moss have clean disciplinary records. Officer J.R. Ricks does not.
Records show he has been suspended more than once, including repeatedly working off-duty jobs without authorization. And on May 25, 2006, then Police Chief Ralph Mendoza suspended Ricks for three days, citing neglect of duty. It stemmed from a February 2006 Tasing incident in which Officer Ricks cleared the call without notifying a supervisor that "he lost a city-issued Taser cartridge," that "he had utilized his Taser" and "to complete a report regarding the use of force during the incident."
In September 2006, documents show chief Mendoza suspended Ricks for 16 days, for a July 2006 fight in New Braunfels. Ricks was off-duty, arrested for punching a bus driver who was trying to break up a fight. Documents also show, two superior officers had recommended Ricks be given an indefinite suspension.
Police department spokesperson Sergeant Chad Mahaffey said the department wouldn't go on camera today, adding "The Rainbow Lounge investigation is open and ongoing. And because of the open and ongoing status, it's not appropriate for me to provide commentary on the investigation right now."
The manager of the Rainbow Lounge also didn't want to speak tonight, saying he was just getting the information from a detective. But bar patron Kevin Williams says he can't believe an officer with this past would be be allowed to stay on the force, wondering where else this could be happening.
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