Law Review
CLEAT welcomes longtime attorney, Bob Thomas, to the Houston office.
Bob Thomas has been a licensed attorney in Texas for the past 22 years. He has represented Texas Peace Officers in Federal and State civil and criminal district court trials. Bob has also represented hundreds of officers in IAD investigations, arbitration hearings, civil service appeals, grievance hearings, and contract arbitrations. He is also licensed in the Southern and Eastern federal district courts, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Bob is a licensed mediator and a TEA arbitrator.
Prior to Bob’s legal career, he served twenty years with the Houston Police Department and honorably retired at the rank of Sergeant. Bob worked 11 years in patrol and retired as an evening shift patrol sergeant. While employed at HPD, Bob was the founding President of the Patrolmen’s union, a director of the HPOA, a trustee of the Houston Police Pension System, and an appointed TCLEOSE commissioner.
Posted by CLEAT
February 20, 2012
CLEAT Senior Attorney Richard Carter was one of the attorneys responding to the scene.
CLEAT Attorney Craig Driskell was one of the attorneys responding to the scene.
All three CLEAT Staff attorneys responded to a multiple officer critical incident in Fort Worth on Tuesday, July 12th. At least three officers were forced to protect their safety when a suspect refused to lower his weapon and raised the firearm toward them placing their lives and safety in jeopardy. The suspect, a felony fugitive, had been barricaded in his home and vowed not to be taken alive. He exited the home and died in the ensuing confrontation with officers. Fortunately, there were no injuries to our officers during the incident. The response by CLEAT attorneys to this incident is commended and shows CLEAT’s dedication to representing our officers in times when legal representation is needed most. Thanks go to Richard Carter, Craig Driskell and Ray Hosack for their professional services. Bobby Garcia, CLEAT Staff Attorney in the RGV, was the On-Call attorney who received the initial call for service and notified the responding attorneys of the incident. Great job by all!
Posted by CLEAT
July 25, 2011
A fellow San Benito officer complained that someone had defaced a photo of him and his wife placed on a bulletin board in his cubicle. This officer did not know who did this, but complained to Internal Affairs that Officer David Ortega was responsible for the damage to the photo. David responded to IA by denying the allegations and expressing his concern that this other officer was retaliating against him for reporting a previous incident of neglect of duty. He turned in his written response to the complaint, but when the IA investigator wanted him to respond to a follow-up questionnaire immediately, without the assistance of an attorney, David refused to do so. The Chief issued a three-day suspension for insubordination.
Upon appeal, the arbitrator chastised the Department for initially concluding there was no evidence to find Officer Ortega had engaged in the conduct, yet then attempted to fabricate a procedural issue over the follow-up questionnaire, in order to justify a disciplinary action. For this reason the arbitrator concluded Officer Ortega was not insubordinate when he requested a union or legal representative before answering follow-up IA questions.
Posted by CLEAT
July 5, 2011
The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas announces the promotion of Senior Staff Attorney Michael Rickman to head of the Legal Division.
As Legal Services Division Director, Rickman will oversee the day to day operations of CLEAT’S premier service to members.
Rickman is a former Mesquite police officer and holds a JD from Texas Tech School of Law. Rickman’s wife, Gay, is a retired Mesquite officer. Rickman joins John Curtis as CLEAT Corporate Counsel in a complete structural makeover of CLEAT’s prized Legal Division.
“Mike brings many years of loyal service to the members of CLEAT. Being a former police officer, his goal is to continue to offer world class legal services to our members,” said John Burpo, CLEAT’s Executive Director.
In his tenure at CLEAT, Rickman has responded to all kinds of critical incidents, won many arbitrations and lawsuits and his legal successes have created many milestones for the CLEAT legal division. He has been with CLEAT since 1997.
Posted by CLEAT
June 20, 2011
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CLEAT’s John Curtis was recently honored by Corpus Christi POA President Mike Staff for his years of service as a staff attorney in South Texas. He was based in Corpus Christi and kept an office in the CCPOA union hall. Curtis has been promoted to CLEAT Corporate Counsel.
Since 1993 Attorney John Curtis has held many different positions inside CLEAT but had only one mission: “to do my very best to represent the legal interests of CLEAT’s members and local unions regardless of the degree of difficulty.”
Once again Curtis finds his title has changed and his daily duties are evolving but his commitment to the cause of CLEAT has never been stronger.
“Really, we are all just here to serve,” he said “regardless of where your assignment takes you CLEAT employees are that rare breed of people who are just extremely passionate about the cause.”
Curtis received his JD from St. Mary’s School of Law in 1987. He has served as CLEAT Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney and General Counsel during his 18 year career with CLEAT.
Posted by CLEAT
May 10, 2011
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court had a common sense message Thursday for workers with cell phones and other gadgets provided by their employers: Use your own cell phone if you’ve got something to text that you don’t want your boss to read.
The justices unanimously upheld a police department’s search of an officer’s personal, sometimes sexually explicit, messages on a government-owned pager, saying the search did not violate his constitutional rights. Read More »
Posted by CLEAT
June 17, 2010
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