Austin Police Commander Accidentally Leaves Gun, Badge At Target

CEDAR PARK, TX - An Austin police commander got home from the Lakeline Mall Target and noticed he was missing a bag containing his badge and gun.

Police were called to the Target on Saturday Nov. 21 after a customer found a duffel bag holding the items and turned it in to loss prevention, KXAN reported.

Commander Stephen Deaton, the owner of the property, returned to the store and told an officer who had just arrived that he put his bag in the shopping cart while browsing. Deaton said he normally would never leave his bag in the cart.

Deaton left the store with his badge and gun and notified the watch commander of the slip-up.

Deaton was reported to have been internally disciplined, but will not face suspension or unpaid time off.

Last November Deaton was suspended for three days for “unprofessional conduct,” KXAN reported. The suspension came after a meeting with officers in which Deaton discussed his decision to bring a case involving another officer to Internal Affairs during his time as assistant chief.

Deaton resigned from his position as chief in April of 2014 for personal reasons.

“Recently I found myself in the position of having to choose between staying in my current assignment and/or pursuing the relationship I recently began,” he said at the time. “I will be stepping down as an assistant chief. I will continue my career with the PD in my previous role with the rank of commander,” he said at the time, according to KXAN.