Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
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The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC, formerly the Texas Liquor Control Board) was created in 1935. The TABC has the task of inspecting, supervising and regulating every phase of business related to alcoholic beverages. The agency is headquartered at 5806 Mesa Drive in Austin.[1]
In addition to their regulatory roles, TABC agents are fully empowered state police officers with state-wide criminal jurisdiction and may make arrests for any offense. See Cortez v. State, 738 S.W.2d 760 (Tex. App.-Austin, 1987).
In 2006, the Commission led Operation Last Call, in which persons in bars and other alcohol serving establishments were arrested for being intoxicated. Said Captain David Alexander, head of the Operation Last Call Task Force, "Going to a bar is not an opportunity to go get drunk...It's to have a good time, but not to get drunk."[3]
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[edit] History
TABC agents made national news for arresting customers in local hotel bars in the Dallas area. After national criticism the Texas Legislature quickly suspended the program last March pending more review.[2]
On June 28, 2009, TABC officers conducted a raid on the Rainbow Lounge, a gay bar in Fort Worth. Several customers were arrested for intoxication inside of the bar. One patron, Chad Gibson, was hospitalized "after being thrown to the floor."[3] The resulting brain hemorrhage and fractured skull, along with other accusations of unnecessary brutality, led to a protest outside of the Tarrant County Courthouse. Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns appeared on CBS News stating, "Rest assured the people of Fort Worth, or the government of Fort Worth, will not tolerate discrimination against any of its citizens."[4] An officer responded by stating that an "extremely intoxicated patron made sexually explicit movements," which warranted the arrests.[4]
[edit] Fallen Officers
Since the establishment of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, 2 officers have died in the line of duty.[5]
| Officer | Date of death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Agent Delbert H. Pearson |
|
Gunfire |
| Agent Joseph Thomas Crews |
|
Vehicular assault |
[edit] References
- ^ "Contact Us." Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Retrieved on November 13, 2008.
- ^ Pete Slover (25 March 2006). "Lawmakers to review bar busts". http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032506dntexdrunkfolo.627e69d.html.
- ^ Tammye Nash (28 June 2009). "Update on Chad Gibson, injured in Rainbow Lounge raid". http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/06/28/update-on-chad-gibson-injured-in-rainbow-lounge-raid/.
- ^ "[1]." CBS 11 News.
- ^ [2]
[edit] External links
- TABC website
- Downloadable audio interview with spokesperson Carolyn Beck on Free Talk Live
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