Texas Trooper Who Got in Trouble for Taking a Picture With Snoop Dogg Sues Bosses

The Texas Trooper who got in trouble for taking a picture with Snoop Dogg at SXSW sues his bosses. Daily Mail reports, Department of Public Safety trooper Billy Spears got in trouble and recommended for counseling earlier this month but he says that the punishment was unfair. Spears filed a civil lawsuit, claiming the punishment was revenge by DPS, Director Steven McCraw and several executives because of a previous complaint Spears filed. The previous complaint filed was against a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) officer in 2014.

Attorney Ty Clevenger, who is representing Spears, wrote on his blog the following: "DPS claims that the counseling forms are not really discipline, therefore the employee has no right to appeal.
'Yet those counseling incidents can block a trooper’s chances for promotion or advancement. So it appears that DPS commanders are papering Billy’s file with counseling incidents because they can’t prove that he violated any law, order, or policy, and they know that he will beat them with the law and the facts if he is given an opportunity to appeal."

Since Spears was only reprimanded with counseling, DPS does not view the penalty as a formal disciplinary action. Clevenger is writing letters to officials at DPS. The Trooper is seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial.

Earlier this month it was reported that the “Jin and Juice” spitta took the picture with Spears at SXSW a few months back. The West Coast MC snapped the photo and posted it on Instagram after giving the keynote speech. Spears' bosses at DPS saw the photo cited him because he "took a photo with a public figure who has a well-known criminal background including numerous drug charges."

Filed Under: Snoop Dogg

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