Fmr. WFPD detective charged with submitting false records

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - A former detective at the Wichita Falls Police Department was charged on 4 counts of crimes related to submitting false documents, the WFPD announced Tuesday.

A City of Wichita Falls official told News Channel 6 that the former detective is Joseph Robeson.

WFPD said the charges followed an internal review and criminal investigation into affidavits filed by Robeson to the Justice of the Peace. The accuracy of these affidavits came into question, according to the WFPD release.

“When concerns were identified by members of our Department, we acted immediately to dismiss the warrants the detective obtained, initiated an internal investigation led by our talented team, and followed the facts,” Chief Mitch Bates said.

The criminal investigation determined there was probable cause to believe that Robeson knowingly submitted affidavits with false information.

“We are shocked by the alleged actions of a former member of this department,” Chief Bates said. “The integrity of the criminal justice process depends on the accuracy and truthfulness of information presented to the courts.”

Robeson was charged with two counts of tampering with a governmental record and two counts of perjury, the WFPD said. The department added on Tuesday that it obtained an arrest warrant for the former detective.

“This is what our community expects and deserves,” Chief Bates said. “Our responsibility is to address misconduct transparently and hold individuals accountable for their actions.”