In a July 13 letter, the U.S. Department of Justice requested that Fort Worth provide police policies, training materials and complaint records within 30 days as its Civil Rights Division determines whether to open a formal investigation into the Fort Worth Police Department.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia said officers were “wrong” in how they described lawful speech during the June 27 encounter and confirmed that First Amendment refresher training was underway across the department.
The Civil Rights Division said it is reviewing the matter under 34 U.S.C. § 12601, a federal law addressing patterns or practices by law enforcement that deprive people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The letter does not announce an investigation or conclude that FWPD violated federal law. It gives the city and police department an opportunity to provide their account of the events and explain what actions they have taken.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, FWPD acknowledged that an officer made inaccurate statements during a June 27 encounter with Christian street preachers Richard Penkoski and David Grisham at Trinity Pride Fest. The department also announced additional First Amendment training for officers and recruits.
DOJ requests records dating to 2015
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon wrote that publicly posted videos reportedly show FWPD officers directing individuals to stop speaking or move based on the content of their expression.
“If true, FWPD may be engaging in practices that restrict constitutionally protected speech based upon viewpoint,” the letter states. “That would raise significant concerns under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and federal civil rights law.”
DOJ requested FWPD policies governing street preaching, demonstrations and expressive activity in public forums, along with First Amendment training materials. The division also requested administrative records for complaints since 2015 alleging that officers restricted, interfered with, retaliated against or otherwise acted adversely toward constitutionally protected expression.
The department also requested records related to enforcement of the 2015 consent decree in Grisham v. City of Fort Worth and any additional information the city wants to provide. DOJ said the recent events may be inconsistent with commitments reflected in that decree.
Fort Worth says citation involved amplified noise
Penkoski and Grisham alleged that officers restricted their speech on public streets and sidewalks surrounding Trinity Pride Fest before issuing Grisham a citation for disorderly conduct related to noise.
FWPD previously told The Dallas Express that officers did not prevent the men from expressing their views. The department said nearby business owners complained that Grisham’s bullhorn disrupted their operations and that officers told him he could continue speaking without an amplification device.
“At no time did officers prevent any individuals from expressing their views,” FWPD said in its earlier statement. “Officers told the individuals they could continue exercising their rights without using an amplification device.”
FWPD also said the video circulating online captured only part of the interaction. The department acknowledged that an officer made inaccurate statements but did not identify which statements were inaccurate.
DOJ acknowledges remedial training
The DOJ letter acknowledged that FWPD reportedly provided remedial First Amendment training after at least one incident. The division asked for lesson plans, officer guidance, supervisory directives and remedial training curricula related to First Amendment enforcement.
Dhillon wrote Tuesday on X that government officials cannot discriminate against viewpoints or restrict peaceful speech because some people may consider it offensive.
Government actors cannot discriminate against viewpoints or restrict peaceful free speech just because it may be offensive to some. Under this administration, the @CivilRights Division will defend free speech, as protected by the Constitution. pic.twitter.com/R2DVR8Ig68
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) July 14, 2026
The Dallas Express reached out to FWPD for comment regarding the Justice Department letter but did not receive a response before publication.
Provided by Dallas Express
