Giving checks to Fort Bend Sheriff's deputies seemed like a good idea at the time

The Sheriff won't say who gave him $220K to hand out. If that someone lives in Fort Bend, that's against the law. Besides that, the Sheriff is supposed to go to the Commissioners before money is handed out to his department.

Fort Bend County Sheriff Milton Wright summoned 220 patrol deputies and detectives to a surprise meeting at his department’s headquarters in Richmond Thursday afternoon and handed each person a white envelope. Inside were cashier’s checks from an anonymous donor for $1,000.

...

Twenty-four hours later, the officers’ initial elation had given way to a torrent of legal and ethical questions about the mysterious donor’s unusual gift, which totalled nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

At issue is whether the checks violate the Texas Penal Code. Section 36.08 states that a public servant commits an offense if he solicits or accepts any benefit from a person the public servant knows to be under his jurisdiction.

Bay Area Houston has a lot to say on this subject. The Sheriff is not seeking re-election.

Chief Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy Craig Brady says he’s going to run for sheriff, once Milton Wright steps down at the end of his current term.

For his part, Sheriff Wright confirmed he won’t seek re-election when his term is finished in four years.