A veteran Fort Worth cop found himself on the wrong side of the law—and out of a job—after a boozy blunder while on the clock, officials said. The Fort Worth Police Department pulled the plug on Officer Marvin Simon's 21-year stint with the force after he reportedly took to snoozing in his patrol car while soused during his shift on June 7 per The Dallas Morning News.
It began with a rude awakening as dispatch got not one but two calls about a seemingly slumbering Simon behind the wheel according to The Dallas Morning News. A responding sergeant smelled a rat—and alcohol—involving Simon, which kicked off an internal investigation. During the probe, the department benched Simon, revoking all police powers faster than you can say "Last call."
As the investigation unfolded, evidence mounted, indicating that Simon was indeed three sheets to the wind during what should have been a sobering service to protect and serve. "Officer Simon’s chain of command determined that he violated multiple policies of the Fort Worth Police Department," the department said in a statement per Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The top brass, including Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes, didn't mince words—or waste time—before giving Simon the boot.
"The Fort Worth Police Department exists to safeguard the lives and property of those we serve and is committed to the highest standards of professionalism in doing so. In this case, Officer Simon did not conduct himself in a manner that represents the professionalism of our officers," the department stated, swinging the ax on Simon's two-decade run. They pledged transparency and accountability, vowing to expose any other badge-wearers who dare to dip below the department's bar of expectations according to Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The now-former officer, who was once part of the South patrol division, finds himself off-duty indefinitely, with the Fort Worth Police Officers Association keeping mum on the fiasco, as they have yet to return a request for comment.
