Two senior IT officials at Dallas City Hall are under investigation after city watchdogs say the employees were also working for Austin City Hall at the same time. The case started in November with a whistleblower tip to the inspector general’s office, was later referred to the Dallas Police Department’s Public Integrity Unit, and is now officially in the hands of detectives. An outside firm brought in to review the situation found no breach of Dallas’s IT systems and no loss of data, and City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has told the IT department to take whatever internal action is appropriate. City officials have not released the names of the employees under scrutiny.
According to The Dallas Morning News, Interim Inspector General Baron Eliason alerted Austin about the allegations after the tip came through the IG’s whistleblower line. The outlet reported that an outside firm was brought in to inspect Dallas’s IT systems and concluded there was no breach and no data loss, and that Tolbert had instructed the IT department to take appropriate steps on its side. The News also noted the case has been open since November and has since shifted from an internal probe to a police investigation.
Investigation Moves To Police
The case is now being handled by the Dallas Police Department’s Public Integrity Unit, the squad that investigates possible criminal conduct by city employees. The Dallas Police Department lists the Public Integrity Unit as the team responsible for probing criminal allegations and corruption involving public servants and for forwarding cases to prosecutors when warranted. That handoff tracks with standard practice when potential crimes by public employees are alleged, with detectives handling any criminal side of the investigation while the inspector general focuses on administrative issues.
Inspector General’s Findings And Limits
The inspector general’s statement, cited by The Dallas Morning News, said the outside review found no breach of the city’s IT system and no loss of data tied to the officials under investigation. The statement also pointed out that, under current Texas law, the inspector general cannot bring criminal cases, which is why the Public Integrity Unit has the lead on anything that might cross into criminal territory. City leaders say the IT department has been instructed to take any necessary personnel or administrative steps while the investigation continues.
Austin Shake-Up Adds Context
The Dallas probe lands just as Austin has been reshuffling its own technology leadership. The Houston Chronicle reported late last month that Austin cut ties with several senior tech officials after an internal review, and public records show some of those employees previously worked for the city of Dallas. Austin officials told the Chronicle that their internal review was not tied to any known cybersecurity threat, but the changing lineups in both cities highlight how closely local governments are now watching IT leadership and outside employment. Dallas’s inspector general said Austin was notified as part of the ongoing probe.
What To Watch Next
Detectives in the Public Integrity Unit will decide whether the facts support criminal charges and could send the case to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Division, which, according to the DA’s website, handles crimes involving public trust. If prosecutors pass on charges, Dallas could still pursue administrative discipline under city personnel rules. Officials have not given a timeline for any next steps and say the investigation is still active.
The situation remains in flux, and city officials say the public will be updated as investigators and prosecutors reach decisions. The Dallas Morning News first reported the investigation and has sought comment from Austin City Hall.
