Arbitration for fired Texas City police officer continues in February

Jan. 20, 2013
Breck Porter

TEXAS CITY - An arbitration hearing continues in Texas City for a police officer fired by Police Chief Robert Burby for alleged misconduct involving a female police officer while the two were on duty in 2011.

Darren A. Allen, 29, was arrested and charged with Criminal Trespass Habitation and Assault Causing Bodily Injury after officer Eulalia Irene Authorlee, 41, complained to authorities he followed her home after the two has responded to a police call together.

Authorlee alleged she and Allen became engaged in a confrontation during which he twisted her arm behind her back causing the injury.

Arbitrator Diane Massey (L) hears evidence CLEAT Attorney Bob Thomas listens
and will make final ruling Arbitrator Massey delivers a ruling.

There were other allegations by Authorlee which led to the arrest and termination from the police department of Darren Allen. All the criminal charges against him were dismissed by the Galveston County District Attorney after lawyers for Allen presented information attacking the creditability of Officer Authorlee.

In preparation for the administrative arbitration, now underway, CLEAT Attorney Bob Thomas said he conducted numerous Texas Public Information Requests regarding officer Authorlee and vertified she is a former jailer for the Houston Police Department and received a Deferred Adjudication sentence after being charged with Misdemeanor Theft in Harris County. Thomas said his investigation also revealed she had been arrested for Driving While her License was Suspended, a charge that was later dismissed. It was also brought out in testimony that Authorlee and three others, working as security at The Front Door Club, were fired from there when the owner became suspicious they were taking money from customers to let them through the back door, rather than paying the cover charge to enter.

Thomas complained to the Texas City Police Officer's Association that the results of his investigation was turned over to Police Chief Burby but neither Burby nor his investigators ever followed up with an investigation, but instead proceeded with charges against Allen.

During the hearing Saturday Attorney Thomas asked Chief Burby why he decided to fire Allen rather than assess a number of days off without pay as he had in the case of a previous officer guilty of dating a woman whose brother was a known gang member and whose letter of suspension was later removed from his file. Burby replied he had lost confidence in Allen and felt he had defiled the public trust by some of his actions.

Attorney Thomas is representing Allen on behalf of CLEAT (the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas) one of the largest police associations in Texas, of which Allen and others in the Texas City Police Department are members.

The hearing will resume February 8th in the Nessler Center in Texas City.

In this photo lawyers for both sides view a video of Officer Allen being questioned by a polygraph operator investigating the charges against him by Officer Authorlee. Attorney Thomas challenged Chief Burby and investigators for administering a polygraph (lie detector) test to Allen and not to Authorlee.

Comments:

I lived in Texas City and read the Galveston Daily news often. I have noticed in recent years the Texas City Police Department has had a large amount of negative activity up to and including false charges filed against their officers. I have read others statements online and have heard in person about their Chief Robert Burby. It seems he allows other administrative staff members to run the department. There is an obvious lack of leadership. I find it shameful that he acts in this manner. I am curious as to how much the city has to pay out for these "False charges and accusations." How much more will the mayor allow. Theres an obvious lack of morals and ethics. Its really such a shame. Texas City could be a wonderful place with all the new development. Shame on you Chief Burby and Mayor Doyle for allowing this behaviour.

Posted by Angel.greer at 1/20/2013 8:21:31 PM

Throw away the key... Cops suppose to protect, but do wrong and do dirty. Society looks up to them.. Few of them now are something else.. Clean up!!!! TCPD in last few years have had their cops mess up... Girl killed years ago parked on side of road, another beat his child and now this guy.. Wow...

Posted by DeDe at 1/21/2013 6:05:21 AM

Unless the mentality is the same as the police chief, that chief needs to be fired.

Posted by BladesSOH at 1/21/2013 11:02:11 AM

I have friends within this police department and have been told that if you’re not part of Chief Burby’s circle then this is how you’re treated. If you are part of his circle then you operate day to day with impunity. I have been a lifelong Texas City resident and if this is how TCPD is run then maybe it’s time to clean house from the top Mr. Mayor!

Posted by marks at 1/21/2013 9:14:45 PM

I have filed a complaint on a Texas City police officer, had an interview with someone. I never heard back one way or the other what happened with it.

Posted by TXCITYResident at 1/22/2013 1:55:08 PM

Again look at Mrs. Lee and her past she's an angry person and needs help...please give her an office job and let Mr. Allen patrol the streets...Again the only thing I can think of is he was just trying to defend himself...he may be of small statured as well...I wish nobody to be jobless but I'm scared to death of this lady! I pray everyday I walk or drive the street that I don't run into her...

Posted by long time resident of Texas City at 1/23/2013 11:35:41 AM

I understand Officer Authorlee has received numerous complaints from citizens for the way she handles them, but few have been investigated and chief Robert Burby has failed to repremand her. I spoke with a family member of a TCPD officer. She advised Authorlee is given special assignments since she is one of Sgt. Popes chosen ones. Apparently Sgt. Pope runs the department...not Chief Burby. I guess Mayor Doyle is blind to this as well.

Posted by angel.greer at 1/23/2013 6:04:13 PM

I feel that officer Allen do not deserve to lose his job. He is a good officer, instead of firing him he should have just been suspended until court proceedings were over. And the other officer(Authorlee) should be giving a lie detector test, it's clear that she is not trust worthy.

Posted by T Lady at 3/13/2013 10:44:31 PM