Fired Fort Worth cop tested positive for cocaine after drugs found at home, letter says
A Fort Worth police officer was fired in January after DEA agents found drugs at his home and he tested positive for cocaine, according to his termination letter obtained by the Star-Telegram.
Officer Ruben Gastelum’s employment was terminated following an Internal Affairs investigation, the Fort Worth Police Department said in a news release on Jan. 23.
The investigation started after Drug Enforcement Agency agents executed a federal narcotics search warrant on Aug. 7, 2024, at Gastelum’s home, according to the termination letter. The main target of their investigation was another resident of the house, whose name is redacted from the copy of the letter that was released to the Star-Telegram through an open records request.
During their investigation, DEA agents learned that the Fort Worth police officer lived at the residence with their target, according to the letter.
“Large amounts of narcotics,” Officer Gastelum’s duty weapon and his police uniforms were seized by the agents, the document states.
On Aug. 15, 2024, Gastelum was taken to a medical center, where he was ordered to provide a urine and hair sample for testing, the Police Department said in the letter. On Aug. 26, his hair follicle test showed a positive result for cocaine, according to the letter.
Gastelum and the DEA did not immediately respond to messages requesting comment on Wednesday. Gastelum is not facing any criminal charges, according to court records.
Gastelum was fired after the administrative investigation determined he violated multiple departmental rules and policies, according to the termination letter.
According to the Fort Worth Police Department’s conditions of employment, “while on or off duty, employees shall not use any illegal drug or any controlled drug not prescribed or not used as prescribed by a physician.”
Gastelum showed “blatant disregard” for the department’s policies and procedures, the letter states. “His actions demonstrate behavior that is not consistent with the conduct expected of a Fort Worth Police officer.”
The letter notified the officer of his indefinite suspension from the department, which he appealed, according to city records. The status of the appeal was unclear on Wednesday.
Gastelum was commissioned as a police officer on Sept. 23, 2022. He was assigned to work with the Fleet Division at the time of his termination.
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 4:13 PM.