Dallas Cops In Hot Water Over Televised Arrest of Firefighter

Posted by: Curt Varone March 16, 2012 6 Comments

The case of a Dallas firefighter wanted for discharging a firearm in a station just got a lot stranger with an internal controversy within the Dallas Police Department over the apparent staging of the firefighter’s arrest for a TV station.

FF Jesus Ventura was arrested Thursday on charges related to his discharge of a firearm on March 8, 2012 at a station on West Commerce Street. Now, in addition to an internal fire department investigation against Ventura, and the criminal charges, Dallas Police are launching an internal investigation into why 5 patrol officers with their lieutenant’s approval arrested Ventura while accompanied by TV cameras.

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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