A Texas sheriff’s deputy who was sent to Uvalde to help local law enforcement in the aftermath of the deadly school shooting was fired for getting drunk while off duty, officials said.
Brazoria County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Lofton, a 2-year veteran of the department, was off-duty at his temporary living quarters in Uvalde on June 2 when he got drunk “to the point that he was a danger to himself and others,” the department said Wednesday.
He was arrested “due to his erratic behavior” on a charge of public intoxication, which is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500.
Lofton was immediately removed from the assignment and then terminated Wednesday, authorities said.
He had been part of a group of eight patrol deputies and two dispatchers who traveled to Uvalde on May 31 to relieve the city’s authorities after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School, killing 19 children and two teachers.
According to the release from the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, an internal investigation has found that the deputy “violated multiple Department policies,” resulting in his ouster.
“The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office is committed to holding our employees to the high standards our community demands and expect from their Sheriff’s office,” the agency’s statement read.
“The Actions of Deputy Lofton were not consistent with the Department’s mission and should not minimize the outstanding work other good men and women have done and continue to do for the grieving community of Uvalde Texas.”
