A Tarrant County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with stealing from the county, according to a complaint filed earlier this month.
Brennan Cox is facing criminal charges for allegedly stealing between $30,000 and $150,000 from 2020 to 2024, KERA News reported. Brandon Barnett, Cox’s attorney, stated that the case pertains to allegations that Cox was clocking in for hours that he did not work.
The Dallas Express reached out to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office concerning Cox’s employment, but did not hear back in time for publication.
The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department has recently been facing increased scrutiny following a rise in inmate deaths, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Anthony Ray Johnson Jr. was one of the inmates who died in April after a scuffle broke out during a routine cell check.
Johnson’s family has decided to file a lawsuit against Tarrant County and the jailers who were involved in his death, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.
The jailers involved in the case were initially terminated but later reinstated to their positions and placed on administrative leave at the recommendation of the civil division of the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, DX reported. In July, the jailers were fired again for protocol violations, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
Tarrant County Jail Chief Charles Eckert retired at the end of May, claiming his retirement had nothing to do with the recent jail deaths. Eckert served as jail chief for four years at the county jail.
Internal police department crime has also recently occurred within the DeSoto Police Department. An evidence clerk from the department was allegedly caught stealing evidence from the property room and charged with 13 counts of theft of a firearm, DX previously reported.
The Dallas Police Department is facing its own internal struggles with a shortage of officers, reported DX. With the city’s large population, it is recommended that the department maintain a staff of 4,000 officers; however, it currently has only about 3,000 members on the force.
Data from the Metroplex Civic and Business Association shows that last month, Downtown Dallas’ crime score was eight times higher than that of Downtown Fort Worth, further highlighting the need for more law enforcement.