FORT WORTH -- A Tarrant County sheriff's deputy has been fired for posting rants on Facebook against Sheriff Dee Anderson and two other county employees after becoming frustrated that he lost his bid for Precinct 1 Constable.
Richard "Bo" Aldridge accused the sheriff of drinking and driving in his county vehicle, an allegation that Anderson flatly denied.Aldridge also made unprofessional and derogatory comments against one of his opponents and Tarrant County Commissioner J.D. Johnson, according to a disciplinary letter obtained by the Star-Telegram on Monday.Based on an internal investigation of the postings and Aldridge's discipline history, the department's Disciplinary Review Board recommended last month that he be fired.Anderson agreed with their recommendation and fired Aldridge effective Aug. 10, the letter says.Aldridge did not file an appeal with the Civil Service Commission and did not return phone messages Monday seeking comment.The inflammatory posts were first made May 29, the night Aldridge learned he had lost in the Republican primary.He was placed on paid leave the next day. Aldridge posted more comments on his Facebook page June 2, targeting Precinct 4 Commissioner Johnson and one of Aldridge's two primary opponents, Tommie Hathorn, a tactical commander and 32-year member of the Sheriff's Department.In an interview with internal investigators June 19, Aldridge said he posted the May 29 comments after learning he had lost the primary election and becoming frustrated.Comments included "Swinging drinking driving ... those folks should not be doing" and "anyone want to see the sheriff drinking while driving his county car???? there is a video lol," the letter says.Aldridge told investigators he was not trying to imply he had such a video or had seen one. He said he was only frustrated with the election results and wanted to express his frustration against elected officials in general.In the June 2 postings, Aldridge accuses Hathorn of tearing down his campaign signs. He posted that the runoff election would be different because he would have people at every polling place to "make damn sure you can't tear down any signs!!!!""There will be people there with cameras and maybe pellet guns shooting people who take down signs!!!!!!!!" a post said.Aldridge told investigators he did not intend to threaten anyone and was only stating a fact. He told investigators he does not condone shooting anyone with a pellet gun.Aldridge also told investigators that he posted Hathorn's personal information on his page but said that because Hathorn was running for public office it was "fair game."Posts referring to Johnson included "We are not DONE!!! You know what is over my back fence???? Pct 4 Commish!!! Maybe WE will rent the vacant house there!!!!!" and "J.D. watch yourself, I know you know who I know!!!!!"Aldridge said he was only insinuating that he would continue to motivate people to be active in local politics and was considering moving into Precinct 4 to run for office there.Like Anderson, Johnson endorsed Hathorn in the election.Hathorn lost in the runoff election against former Haltom City Councilman Dale Clark.The letter says Aldridge's comments on the social website were "inappropriate, threatening and damaging to the character and/or reputation of other Tarrant County employees.""Because of frustration, you subjected Tarrant County employees to unprofessional and unnecessary comments after finding out you had lost in the election," the letter says. "... Furthermore, posting Lieutenant Hathorn's personal information on a social website in such a malicious manner could have caused a dangerous situation for him and his family."Deanna Boyd, 817-390-7655Twitter: @deannaboydHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
