An off-duty domestic violence investigation has cost a Llano police officer his badge and landed him in county jail, after the department said its internal review uncovered evidence of possible criminal acts. The former officer’s name and specific charges remain undisclosed as the Texas Rangers continue investigating.
In a Tuesday news release, Police Chief John Bauer said department administrators recently learned of the allegations and immediately opened an internal inquiry, according to CBS Austin. After the inquiry, Llano police contacted the Texas Rangers, who obtained multiple arrest warrants and took the former officer into custody without incident before he was booked into the Llano County Jail.
The allegations reportedly involved conduct outside of the officer’s official duties, but the department treated the matter as both an internal personnel issue and a potential criminal case. The City of Llano staff directory lists Bauer as the city’s police chief.
Texas Rangers Now Handle The Criminal Investigation
The Texas Rangers are part of the Texas Department of Public Safety, which describes the division as the state’s major criminal investigative branch for public-integrity cases and other major investigations, according to a DPS planning document. Their involvement does not establish what offenses the former officer may face, and officials have not released a charging document or details about the alleged conduct.
Bauer said domestic violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated within the department’s ranks, as reported by CBS Austin. The investigation remains active, and the arrest allegations have not been proven in court.
