Trouble within the Pflugerville Police Department took a turn for the judicial as former detective Tara Schafer, 35, was arrested on charges of tampering with government records, a third-degree felony, after she allegedly deleted hundreds of files from the department's internal storage without authorization, as detailed in court documents. CBS Austin reports that the deleted files were related to her husband, Tyler Schafer, a former officer at the same department.
The curious case unfolded when administrative investigations discovered that Schafer used her official laptop to remove 554 records from her husband's electronic folder the night he was fired, the incident uncovered a broader issue of potential abuse of power positions and trust within Pflugerville PD and the deletion was not only an act against protocol but also a legal transgression, according to a criminal complaint cited by KXAN.
Tara Schafer's actions followed the notification of an impending investigation and subsequent firing of her husband, whose termination letter, obtained by KXAN, cited "a continued disregard for Pflugerville Police Department policy and poor decision making." However, the police have not specified the details of Tyler's behavioral and performance issues. Meanwhile, Tara's attorney Lytza Rojas expressed confidence in her client's defense, stating to KXAN, "Tara and am looking forward to seeing all the evidence and vigorously defending Tara through the court process."
After the internal inquiry, a city spokesperson confirmed to CBS Austin that Tara Schafer was initially placed on administrative leave, following the commencement of the investigation, and then eventually terminated from her position upon her arrest, all this serves as a reminder of the impact of one's actions in professional environments are never truly singular but ripple outwards in ways unforeseen, carrying with them the weight of accountability.
