A whistleblower claims he’s facing retaliation after exposing a San Antonio probation department’s policy that allows wanted criminals to walk out of probation offices instead of being arrested.
“I’ve been ignored, retaliated against and punished,” Bexar County probation officer and union representative Sergio Castilleja told News 4 San Antonio Tuesday. Castilleja said he was ordered to resign by Dec. 30 or face termination. (RELATED: VA Offers Anti-Corruption Whistleblower $305,000 To Go Away)
The county probation department said Castilleja is being fired for poor performance.
Letting wanted people walk out of probation offices creates a huge risk to the public, according to Castilleja.“They have the potential to hurt, be a risk out there to the community if we let them past our doors,” he said.
One wanted man walked out of a probation office, then killed his passenger during a high-speed pursuit with sheriff’s deputies, News 4 San Antonio reported. The victim’s father compared the man’s release to allowing a killer or drug dealer to walk free. (RELATED: VA Employee Who Exposed Problems Now Rolling In Cash, But Problems Remain)
Another man drove the wrong way on a highway in December and slammed into a construction truck, injuring one person. A warrant for his arrest was issued the previous March and he walked out of his probation office in July.
Anderson, unlike Catilleja, is keeping his job.
The Bear County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the probation department, a November News 4 San Antonio investigation found.
A spokesman for the probation office did not respond to a Daily Caller News Foundation request for comment.
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