The FBI has launched an investigation into the actions of a Texas sheriff, Greg Capers, following complaints of corruption and misconduct from his own deputies. A woman, Jenifer Jones, who contacted federal agents regarding the botched investigation into her brother’s killing, has provided evidence of the sheriff’s wide-ranging misconduct. The FBI agents, during extensive interviews, asked questions about cases and events beyond Jones’ brother’s death, indicating a potential probe into civil rights violations.
The investigation into the rural sheriff comes after an AP investigation revealed long-standing accusations against Capers. It was found that he had ignored deputies’ misconduct and neglected basic police work while focusing on asset seizures to boost his office’s budget. However, these seizures did not always hold up in court. Despite years of complaints by his staff, Capers had never been investigated until now.
The FBI’s interest in Capers was sparked by his agency’s response to a mass shooting. Although he gained prominence for leading the search for the shooter, Capers faced criticism for providing inaccurate information about deputies’ response time and neglecting some residents’ concerns. The investigation’s progress and conclusion remain uncertain, as many federal investigations do not result in criminal charges.
Capers and his second-in-command have not yet directly responded to the FBI’s investigation. However, Chief Deputy Tim Kean stated that their office is open to outside scrutiny and he looks forward to cooperating with the agents. The probe follows years of complaints by Capers’ staff to state and federal law enforcement, indicating a history of misconduct.
Jones, who reached out to the FBI after the mass shooting, hopes that the scrutiny surrounding Capers’ actions will bring attention to her brother’s unsolved case. Her brother, John Wayne Dodge, was fatally shot in 2020, and although his son was initially arrested for murder, the case was dropped in 2022. Jones believes that another man is responsible for her brother’s death and that the investigation was inadequate.
Jones met with FBI agents in September and October, providing them with records and contact information for others who may have been wronged by the sheriff. She also shared a police consultant’s report that compares Capers’ office to organized crime. The report’s recommendation to involve the Texas Rangers’ public corruption squad was disregarded by county leaders who paid for it.
The fact that officials ignored the report’s conclusion is considered a significant red flag by the FBI agents. Jones wants county residents to know that there is an outside authority they can turn to with complaints about the sheriff, as she believes the victims have nowhere else to go.
Overall, the FBI’s investigation into Sheriff Greg Capers and his agency’s alleged corruption and civil rights violations brings attention to long-standing complaints by his own deputies. The outcome of this investigation remains uncertain, but it highlights the importance of accountability and the need for residents to have a trusted authority to address their concerns.
