BRENHAM, Texas - A Brenham police officer was fired after an investigation into the use of excessive force. On Monday, Brenham Police Chief Craig U. Goodman terminated the employment of Corporal Richard Bobbitt. He was dismissed on Monday after 6 years with the Brenham police Department.
According the Brenham PD, Corporal Bobbitt was involved in a pursuit of a stolen vehicle on July 14, 2016 when the female suspect left Brenham driving toward Houston. Multiple officers and agencies were involved in the pursuit. The vehicle was stopped near the Harris/Waller County line when her tires were deflated by a spike strip deployed on US 290. Officer Bobbitt removed the female suspect from the vehicle once it had stopped.
A statement released by the police department said that after an internal affairs investigation was completed, Corporal Bobbitt was found to have used excessive force in his detention and arrest of the suspect. The investigation showed that Corporal Bobbitt unnecessarily struck the suspect multiple times in her face and head after she was removed from the vehicle.
“It is extremely important that we take very seriously a situation where the use of force appears to be questionable,” Chief Craig Goodman stated in announcing this disciplinary action. “After a detailed review, there is no question excessive and unnecessary force was used in apprehension of this female subject in this case,” Chief Goodman concluded.
The statement from Brenham PD went on to say that any time force is used in the apprehension of a suspect, it is noted in the reports generated about the incident and reviewed by supervisory personnel. When it is suspected that the force utilized was either excessive or unnecessary the Department initiates a further review of what transpired in the incident through an internal affairs investigation.
“Training is an essential part of equipping an officer to do his or her job. That training includes how to properly utilize sufficient force to address a situation where force is necessary, but not to use unnecessary or excessive force. We take the matter of training very seriously,” Goodman added.
The Brenham Police Department is not commenting any further at this time nor are they releasing a photo of Bobbitt. Their public information officer says they are trying to maintain a balance between transparency and fairness to the employee.
