QUITMAN, Texas — A former police captain in East Texas has won a staggering $21.35 million lawsuit against local officials, who a jury found had wrongfully terminated him and retaliated against him after he exercised his First Amendment rights. Terry Bevill, the ex-police captain from Quitman, had filed the lawsuit following his controversial dismissal in 2017.
Bevill was terminated from the Quitman Police Department after he submitted an affidavit requesting a venue change for a colleague’s trial, citing potential local bias. The affidavit, filed as a private citizen, became the center of a whirlwind case that led to accusations from Bevill of retaliation by the county’s top officials, including the mayor, the sheriff, and a district judge.
Details from the federal court proceedings reveal that jurors awarded Bevill $18 million in compensatory damages and an additional $3.35 million in punitive damages, to be paid by various officials including former Wood County Sheriff Tom Castloo, former Wood County District Attorney James Wheeler, former Quitman Mayor David Dobbs, and former 421st District Court Judge Jeff Fletcher.
Castloo was slapped with a $750,000 penalty, Wheeler owes $1 million, Fletcher $1.5 million, and Dobbs $100,000, highlighting the significant financial repercussions for the individuals involved.
The legal battle began when Bevill sought to aid his former colleague, David McGee, a former Wood County jailer charged with crimes related to his duties. Bevill argued in his affidavit that overwhelming local media coverage and intertwined relationships among local officials could prejudice the case, although his efforts to change the venue were denied. Subsequently, Bevill faced termination and was himself charged with aggravated perjury, though a grand jury declined to indict him months later.
The lawsuit painted a grim picture of retaliation, led by Dobbs at the behest of influential county officials who felt threatened by Bevill’s actions. The deleterious effect on Bevill’s life post-dismissal included a drastic career change and financial instability that saw him resorting to truck driving and selling personal belongings to sustain himself.
In a statement after the verdict, Bevill expressed relief and vindication, saying, “After five long years of waiting and two weeks of testimony, the jury just verified that I was right all along. All you’ve got in this life is your name, and now I hope people realize what I did was the right thing to do, and I’d do it all over again.”
His attorney, Laura Benitez Geisler, stated that the jury’s decision reflected acknowledgment of the unjust actions faced by Bevill. “The evidence clearly showed that a longtime and respected police officer was fired in retaliation for stating an opinion,” Geisler said. “We’re pleased the jury has compensated Mr. Bevill for the emotional and reputational damage he has suffered.”
This landmark case underscores the ongoing national debate over the rights of law enforcement officials within their professional roles and the potential repercussions of standing up against systemic issues within the justice system. The substantial financial compensation awarded in this case illustrates both the severity of the misconduct by officials and the jury’s intent to send a clear message against such violations.