Numerous Violations Found In Raid Of Forth Worth’s Rainbow Lounge

The investigation of the raid of Fort Worth’s Rainbow Lounge has uncovered numerous violations of procedures and the involved TABC agents and their superiors will likely face discipline.

“There were so many violations that one could readily assert that they had no business walking through the door,” said state Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, who met with Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officials Wednesday to discuss the report. The 32-page document outlines what happened during the controversial bar check by Fort Worth police and TABC agents at the gay bar, which led to six public intoxication arrests and left one bar patron, Chad Gibson, seriously injured. The report says agents Christopher Aller and Jason Chapman violated agency policy because they:

-Participated in the operation with Fort Worth police without approval.
-Were dressed in “unapproved” attire.
-Failed to follow bar inspection procedures.
-Failed to report using force against patrons.
-Failed to report that Gibson was injured.
-Disrupted business, among other things.

Aller told investigators that he violated some policies, according to the report. “I hope I’m not the scapegoat for some things.  . . . I’ll take the responsibility for the things I did wrong,” Aller said.

A spokesman for the TABC said, “We know we violated the rules and bruised our relationship with the gay and lesbian community and the community as a whole. We want to do what we can to mend that.” How about starting by firing everybody involved?