A Fort Worth police officer was fired on Friday, months after allegedly shoving a person to the ground and then lying about the incident.
On July 22, 2022, Officer Jose Salazar was working a security gig for a bar in Fort Worth. He was not officially on duty at the time of the incident.
A person was arguing with the bar’s staff outside. As the individual started walking away, Salazar allegedly pushed them to the ground and placed them under arrest, according to the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD).
Authorities added that the individual posed no threat to Salazar.
While an internal investigation was conducted, FWPD stripped Salazar of his police powers and placed him on restricted duty.
After the investigation, Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes and his command staff concluded that Salazar should be terminated from the department.
The decision was reached after the department concluded Salazar “used greater force than necessary and that he was untruthful in the reporting of this incident.”
The department released a statement about Salazar’s termination and the values the department upholds:
“The Fort Worth Police Department is filled with officers who do the job right every day. In this case, Officer Salazar did not conduct himself in a manner that represents the professionalism of our officers. Our department will continue to hold employees accountable who do not meet the standards expected of a Fort Worth police officer and in doing so, we will continue to be transparent and open with our community.”
Salazar had been with the department for 15 years and had been assigned to the Dignitary Protection Unit before being placed on restricted duty.
News of Salazar’s termination followed the highly publicized trial of former FWPD police officer Aaron Dean, who was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison last month for a manslaughter conviction in the killing of Atatiana Jefferson.