Culture Of Abuse At WilCo Police Academy Found In State Probe

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — A now-departed instructor at the Williamson County police training academy regularly used racial and misogynist slurs against cadets while serving at the facility, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement concluded in a lengthy report.

The infractions resulted in an official reprimand from the state agency, short of a feared "at risk" designation that would have jeopardized the academy's accreditation, a spokesperson said.

As Patch first reported Oct. 18, a complaint filed with the state agency sparked an investigation into practices at the Deputy A.W. Grimes (D.A.W.G.) training center at 8160 Chandler Road in Hutto, which was completed this year at a cost of $9.9 million. Patch learned the investigation was sparked after a complaint filed by Pflugerville Police Chief Jessica Robledo, which is confirmed in the state report. Patch reached out to Robledo for comment, but she declined through a spokesperson to be interviewed.

Patch has learned the since-departed instructor, Sgt. David Nickel, previously served as an officer with the Austin Police Department and in Lakeway. Sources told Patch that Nickel was placed on indefinite suspension from the Austin department for undisclosed reasons. Patch has requested information from both departments about his employment and his reasons for leaving.

Among the allegations against Nickel was that he used abusive language and slurs against African Americans and women cadets, Patch learned. Another allegation centered on manipulation of scores, including charges one recruit from Williamson County who failed a battery of tests was artificially elevated ahead of his class to ensure valedictorian status from the host county.

Related story: WilCo Police Training Center Under State Investigation

According to the report, Nickel acknowledged using the slur but defended its context. He told investigators he used the slur in telling the African American cadet that "if someone calls you a n----r, you’re going to have to maintain your composure.”

The findings paint a picture of harassment, bullying and abuse of cadets by Nickel — who resigned ahead of the report's release. Investigators also found evidence of test score manipulation and grade concessions for selected cadets. Investigators found Williamson County Sheriff's Office Lt. Craig Gripentrog revised academic standards after several cadets failed tests.

As sources confirmed to Patch, cadets were subjected to humiliating treatment at the hands of Nickel, who was assigned as an instructor. Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody previously confirmed Nickel had resigned rather than being fired, while the lieutenant in charge was reprimanded and had his training license revoked.

State investigators found the allegations of mistreatment and of favoritism for Williamson County cadets were valid. In great detail, the investigators detailed widespread evidence of abuse. Patch has chosen to redact names of those making the allegations to ensure their privacy.

• "We spoke about (cadet's name redacted) and the treatment he received from Deputy Nickel. He heard that Nickel called him the N-word from other cadets. During (physical training) while running, Nickel said, 'Aren’t you people supposed to be fast?'"
• "When asked if there was a comment made to a female jailer going through the jailer course, Deputy (redacted) stated he heard the rumor that Sgt. Nickel called the female a whore because of what she was wearing."
• "Deputy (redacted) was then asked if Sgt. Nickel ever called (redacted) a 'pussy.' Once again, Deputy (redacted) was extremely apprehensive about answering the question and clearly trying to think of a lie. Finally, he stated yes, that he did hear the comment made by Sgt. Nickel to (redacted) during a workout. "
• "I then asked (redacted) if he ever heard a story about a female jailer that was going through the jailer’s course, being called a 'whore.' Deputy ... stated yes, that he heard Sgt. Nickel called the female jailer a whore because of what she was wearing."
• "He advised (redacted) told him that Sgt. Nickel stepped up to him and said 'What if someone got in your face and called you a (n word). (Redacted) stated that no instructor ever talked to him like that or said that word to him personally in the academy."
• "Deputy (redacted) stated that he believes the rules were changed because some of the cadets were 'on the line' and close to failing out. He stated it was probably changed to save the academy because three or four cadets were struggling academically. He stated it was probably one cadet from an outside agency and two or three from Williamson County. Deputy (redacted) advised cadets (redacted) failed a few tests and were at the bottom of the class ranking."
• "Deputy (redacted) stated that (redacted) would make sexual comments to her, about her butt, all the time. She stated that she never complained to instructors because she is a big girl and could deal with him."
• In one interview, a deputy "advised that when the academy started the academic standards were that cadets had to maintain an 80 or above average, could not fail a re-test, and could not fail three original tests. (Redacted) stated that it later changed (about three months into the program), and the failing three original tests rule was no longer in play as long as you maintained an 80 average. Deputy ... never mentioned that he was one of the cadets that failed multiple tests and benefited from the rule change."
• "Deputy ... was also asked about the academic ranking of the cadets based on their grades on tests. Deputy (redacted) stated that he always questioned the ranking and grades because he only failed two tests and there are other cadets failing multiple tests, yet they are still above him academically. He was not sure how that was happening and did not know if they were using the re-test grade or the original grade in the averages."
• "Officer (redacted) stated at the beginning of the academy you could not fail a third original test or you were dismissed from the academy. Officer ... then advised that later the rules changed and it no longer mattered how many original test cadets failed, as long as they passed the re-test and maintained an 80 average."
• "She advised she wore Nike shorts and a shirt. (Redacted) advised that her class did their run and were about to walk in, when Deputy Nickel walked out. (Redacted) stated Deputy Nickel looked right at her and stated, 'Oh, we don't allow whores here.' (Redacted) stated she was in shock and didn't say anything. (Redacted) stated Sgt. Nickel said it to her, in front of her class."

Investigators also found the cadet class "was disorganized and schedule was not distributed until months after starting the academy." Additionally, investigators found, no exit critiques were given to cadets.

Robledo, the Pflugerville chief, called the state agency after two of her officers graduated from the facility and said they had endured apparent mistreatment, including Nickel's use of a racial slur directed toward African Americans, among other insults.

"Wanting to verify the claims of her officers, Chief Robledo called other local police chiefs with a cadet enrolled in this same academy and asked them if they had heard of any complaints about their experience in the WCSO police academy," investigators wrote. "Chief (Ryan) Phipps of Manor and Chief (Bo) Kidd of Buda questioned their officers that attended this same academy and their officers corroborated the complaints."

After the three chiefs complained, Williamson County Sheriff Chody tried to convince them to allow him to conduct an internal investigation before involving the state, investigators found. "Due to the seriousness of the allegations, Chief Robledo felt it was too late and told Chody she would contact" the commission, the report reads.

The findings earned the training site's operators a reprimand from the state agency, according to a hand-delivered letter sent by the agency to Gripentrog on Oct. 9. Citing violations of the Texas Administrative Code as it relates to Training Coordinator section, the agency advised the lieutenant of the possibility of further state actions.

"This letter of reprimand is now a permanent part of your commission file," the commission said. "Please note that the license of a person who has previously received two written reprimands from the commission is subject to suspension."