Texas Firefighter Indefinitely Suspended Over Gang Related Activities

Posted by: Curt Varone October 20, 2015 1 Comment

A Texas firefighter who was shot last year in a bar fight has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest last May on weapons charges.

Bill Dudley, 33, a 13-year veteran of the Waco Fire Department, has been on administrative leave with pay since May 15. Last week Waco Fire Chief John Johnston ordered Dudley’s “indefinite suspension” (for those not from Texas… that means he was fired) for “unlawfully carrying a weapon while being a member of an outlaw gang” as well as what was characterized as a “multitude of violations of state law and city policies”.

In a disciplinary letter sent last week, Chief Johnston listed five “skirmishes” that involved members of the Bandidos motorcycle gang that occurred while Dudley was reportedly riding at the time. Last December, Dudley was shot in the chest during a dispute a Fort Worth bar in which a member of a rival gang was killed and a Bandido was wounded.

Dudley has denied being a member of the Bandidos. He has the right to grieve his termination through the Waco Civil Service System.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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