DWI arrest is a shameful blow to Fort Worth police

Logic says two people, more than anyone, feel the pain of Fort Worth police official Paul Henderson's early Saturday arrest in Parker County on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

The first has to be Henderson, a 19-year veteran who worked his way up to be Chief Jeff Halstead's chief of staff. Often the department's front man in discussing important issues, including disciplinary actions against officers, in 2010 he even pronounced the department "fed up" with officers who were the subject of off-duty DWI complaints.

There's been no allegation that Henderson is a problem drinker or has a DWI habit. Still, drinking and DWI have been a very public problem for Fort Worth police, including the 2009 death of a young mother in a wreck involving a drunk officer driving a city-owned SUV.

Henderson had a prominent role in the department's vigorous response, which included mandatory alcohol-awareness training for all officers. Innocent until proven guilty he may be; with his arrest he became a prominent part of the departmental problem.

He must feel the shame, just as he must realize the danger he posed to other people if he indeed was driving drunk. He has apologized, Halstead has said.

Only Henderson's loved ones can help him through what must be a difficult time.

The next most troubled person in this sad saga must be Halstead. Henderson clearly is someone Halstead had come to trust and to whom he delegated great responsibility. Halstead came to Fort Worth from Phoenix in 2008 to take over the department.

On Tuesday, Halstead landed hard with a public denunciation of Henderson, busting him in rank and shunning him from the executive office.

The former chief of staff is now the subject of an investigation by the very internal affairs staff he supervised only a few days ago.

Halstead could do no less. Publicly pronouncing his personal disappointment in his former top aide, Halsted said what he had to say: "I will never tolerate this behavior."

Neither will Fort Worth. Halstead must make sure each of his department's employees gets that message. Again.

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