Precinct-hopping deputy constable steps down from new position

A Harris County Precinct 6 deputy constable, whose hiring had come under scrutiny because of his recent departure from another constable’s office, on Monday resigned his position.

Sgt. Wayne Schultz turned in his letter of resignation, according to Travis Motl, a spokesperson for Harris County Precinct 6 Constable Silvia Trevino.

The announcement of Schultz’s resignation came hours after the Chronicle reported about the end of Schultz’s time at Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office and move to Precinct 6. Houston Chronicle news partner ABC 13 was the first to report about Schultz’s move between precincts.

Schultz resigned from Precinct 1 on July 7 amid accusations that he possessed an unauthorized GPS jammer and kept it in his patrol vehicle.

Schultz earlier this year was also named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by attorneys representing an unarmed Black man who was held at gunpoint by Precinct 1 deputies and attacked by a police dog. Officials said his departure from Precinct 1 was not connected to the lawsuit.

Despite the investigation and lawsuit, Schultz was subsequently hired by Precinct 6.

Schultz couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.

Precinct 1 officials said Schultz’s possession of a GPS scanner was a violation of department policy and of Federal Communications Commission rules.

Motl last week said Precinct 6 was aware Schultz was being investigated for a policy violation, but not for an FCC violation and said the Precinct 1 office didn’t inform Precinct 6 about Schultz’s status as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Precinct 1 spokesman Jeff McShan disputed Motl’s claim about withheld information. A sergeant from Precinct 6 visited Precinct 1 on July 11 and spent more than an hour reviewing Schultz’s personnel file, McShan said.

“He was given the entire file which included background and investigations including his involvement in the current lawsuit,” McShan said.