An internal investigation
in 2009 found that Harris County deputy constable Jimmy Drummond and another
officer were 'statistically aberrant in the numbers of complaints they
receive.' Two years later, Drummond was captured on a dash cam repeatedly
kicking David Braxton Scherz Jr.
A Texas police station was warned about a
former officer’s history of excessive force two years before he was caught on
video repeatedly kicking a man during a traffic stop, the victim’s lawyer told
the Daily News on Saturday.
An internal investigation found that Harris
County deputy constable Jimmy Drummond and another officer were “statistically aberrant
in the numbers of complaints they receive,” according to a memo sent to the
command’s captain in 2009.
Although most of the complaints were
cleared as unfounded, investigators still recommended keeping them under a
watchful eye.
.
“Patrol
supervisors should closely review the activities of the two employees for the
next several months for any possible aggression or rudeness toward citizens,”
reads the document, which was obtained by The News.
The review found that five complaints were
filed against Drummond in a two-year period — more than any other officer in
the command. Only one other constable received any complaints during the same
time.
Drummond was recorded by a dash cam on
Sept. 10, 2011 viciously kicking David Braxton Scherz Jr. during a wild brawl
with authorities outside his north Houston home.
The footage, which was recently released,
shows constables harassing other family members, who were initially arrested
but the charges were later dropped.
Drummond — who faces one misdemeanor charge
of official oppression — made his first court appearance Friday, but did not
enter a plea.
The statute of limitations will likely
prevent other officers from being charged.
Randall Kallinen, the attorney representing
Scherz family, said the document shows Harris County Constable Precinct 4
should have done more to prevent Drummond from engaging with people in the
community.
“They knew about this guy and that he was a
problem,” Kallinen said. “They do not do enough to protect citizens from
officers who use excessive force.”
Officials have declined to comment any
further on the case or Drummond’s history, but have maintained that excessive
force is not tolerated in the department.