AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A small town Texas police chief has crashed a news conference held by state Senate and House lawmakers trying to reform asset forfeiture laws.
Tracy Aaron of the Mansfield Police Department interrupted Wednesday’s proceedings at the state Capitol to say he was offended by remarks that authorities are “policing for profits.”
Democratic state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa made the comment but left before Aaron spoke. A brief exchange between the chief and Republican state Sen. Konni Burton ensued.
A bi-partisan push to reform asset forfeiture laws that critics say police abuse as a funding source has received new attention. That came after President Donald Trump recently told a Texas sheriff they could “destroy” the career of an unnamed state lawmaker championing the effort.
Mansfield is a suburb southeast of Fort Worth.