WilCo Deputies Were Rewarded For Use Of Force: Report

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Calls for the resignation of the Williamson County sheriff grew on Friday after The Austin American-Statesman reported that leaders in his office awarded steakhouse gift cards to deputies as rewards for using force, including to two deputies who detained a Black resident of Pflugerville who later died while in custody.

According to the report by the Statesman, among the deputies who received gift cards to places such as Logan’s Roadhouse were J.J. Johnson and Zach Camden, both of whom were involved in the March 2019 death of Javier Ambler. The Black 40-year-old father was Tased four times as he told police of his heart condition and inability to breathe. Ambler was initially stopped for failure to dim his headlight as he passed deputies, and the ensuing chase was conducted as cameras for the now-canceled "Live PD" reality show rolled, as Patch previously reported.

Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody has declined to discuss the matter with media outlets, instead taking to Twitter in refuting allegations made by outgoing Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore, who said a grand jury would be empaneled to study the matter. Moore lost a bid to retain her seat in the runoff election, prompting a delay for the grand jury probe to be initiated by a successor emerging from the November election.

Related stories:

• Calls Grow For WilCo Sheriff To Resign After In-Custody Death
• New Details Of In-Custody WilCo Death Further Ignite Anger
• Possible Evidence Tampering Probed In WilCo In-Custody Death
• Rally For Justice Slated For Man Who Died After WilCo Arrest
• Travis County DA Delays Action On Officer-Involved Shootings
• WilCo Sheriff, 'Live PD' Crew Reportedly Under Grand Jury Probe
• WilCo Sheriff Chody Finds Himself Under Unwelcome Spotlight

Two former employees told the Statesman sheriff’s office leaders rewarded deputies who used force on the job with steakhouse gift cards, one of whom made the admission to Texas Rangers investigating the agency’s aggressive tactics.

The revelations outlined in the report garnered condemnation from many officials, including Mike Gleason, a candidate for Williamson County sheriff who hopes to unseat Chody this fall. "There is something institutionally wrong with rewarding someone for using force," Gleason said in a prepared statement. "All uses of force should be used as a teachable moment, especially when the job is to protect and serve. It’s time for new leadership in the Williamson County Sheriff’s department.”

State Rep. John Bucy III called for Chody's resignation following the latest revelations. “Sheriff Chody has shown time and time again he is unfit to lead," he said in a prepared statement. "His actions and the culture he’s created discredit hardworking and honorable members of law enforcement and undermine the public trust. We need change at WCSO [Williamson County Sheriff's Office] so that all of our residents feel safe and welcome."

State Rep. James Talarico echoed the sentiment: “This is the type of disgraceful behavior we’ve come to expect from Sheriff Chody," Talarico said in a prepared statement. "This is the same sheriff who cut the county’s award-winning Crisis Intervention Team, promoted white supremacists in his department, and killed Javier Ambler for a reality TV show. The people of Williamson County deserve better.”

The chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, Gilberto Hinojosa, joined the growing chorus in calling for Chody to step down: “The Texas Democratic Party once again calls on Sheriff Chody to resign his position as Williamson County Sheriff. The tragic death of Javier Ambler and the subsequent destroying of evidence was reason enough. Now, the public knows about the troubling systematic problems within the Williamson County sheriff’s department. Rewarding officers for police brutality is dead wrong. Sheriff Chody has shown that he is unfit to lead. The actions and culture he’s created are not in line with the department’s values."