A second arbitration hearing begins next week in the case of a former Kyle Police officer who had been indefinitely suspended on two seperate occasions.
The hearing involves former Kyle Police Sgt. Jesse Espinoza, who had been indefinitely suspended in 2015 and 2016.
In a press release, Grant Goodwin, of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), who is Espinoza’s legal counsel, claims his client was singled out for retaliation and has been “embroiled” in arbitration and litigation since he was elected as Kyle Police Association president.
Goodwin also claims the city has “spared no expense and left no dirty trick undone” to keep Espinoza from regaining his job. He also claims the city has spent more than three times Espinoza’s annual salary on outside legal counsel.
According to the release, Espinoza allegedly provided Kyle’s city manager with documentation of Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett’s “failure to be truthful during an investigation into the chief’s conduct.”
That investigation stemmed from a 2014 lawsuit filed by Louisiana doctor Glen Hurlston against Barnett and the city of Kyle.
Hurlston’s suit claimed Barnett, who was at the time the Princeton Police Chief, abused his authority by harassing Hurlston while Barnett was having an affair with his wife.
That lawsuit was eventually dismissed “with prejudice” in 2016.
However, Goodwin claims the city failed to investigate Barnett and instead placed Espinoza on administrative leave, which was then followed by an indefinite suspension.
Goodwin alleges the city, through its legal counsel, illegally obtained protected information not relevant to the case at hand.
In late 2016, Espinoza filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Kyle for violating his and his wife’s civil rights.
“It is apparent that the City of Kyle will not stop persecuting Sergeant Espinoza for his attempt to do the right thing,” Goodwin said in a statement. “It’s apparent the City of Kyle will not stop sending lawyers and spending taxpayer dollars until they completely crush Jesse Espinoza.”
Espinoza’s upcoming hearing continues a saga that’s enveloped the city for the past three-plus years.
Espinoza was initially placed on administrative leave by the city of Kyle in 2014. He was then placed on indefinite suspension following an investigation completed by an outside firm in May 2015.
An indefinite suspension equates to being terminated. The investigation claimed Espinoza engaged in acts of misconduct, including insubordination and untruthfulness. The investigation also included Espinoza’s relationship to Hurlston.
Espinoza appealed his suspension in 2015, with an arbitration hearing held in November of that year.
An outcome to that hearing was not rendered, however, as the hearing examiner in the case passed away.
He was then placed on indefinite suspension for a second time in 2016 following new allegations of misconduct.
The Hays Free Press reached out to the city of Kyle for comment on this story.
City officials did not comment, but said they have not received Goodwin’s press release.
Espinoza’s arbitration hearing begins Aug. 14.
