Texas Dept. of Public Safety officer denied transfer to help care for his terminally ill father

AUSTIN, TX- So much for family first, apparently. That is the case in Texas, where a veteran law enforcement officer at the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has been denied a transfer to help in caring for his father, who is terminally ill, KXAN reports.

Special Agent Calvin Green has been employed with the department for nearly 14 years and primarily worked in the El Paso area where his family lives. However, Green transferred to a new position with the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) based in Austin two and a half years ago.  

One year later, things began to go badly for Green’s father. Green learned that his father, who had been fighting multiple sclerosis for many years, was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, myasthenia gravis, which has no known cure, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. 

Green noted his father was a retired Marine and 28-year veteran of the El Paso (TX) Police Department. 

“Ever since I was a little boy, I looked up to my father, who’s a former Marine and a 28-year veteran of the El Paso Police Department. He instilled in me to serve and help others,” Green said. 

Green joined the Army as soon as he graduated high school, then joined the El Paso Police Department and then the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol before finally joining the Texas Department of Public Safety, KXAN said. 

Green told the outlet his father’s safety began a rapid decline, and it became increasingly necessary for him to be home with his family. 

KXAN obtained records from DPS, which showed Green submitted a request to transfer to CID West Texas Region in El Paso on July 4, 2023, which was denied due to a performance evaluation rating of “Needs Improvement” on his most recent annual review. 

The outlet asked DPS if there were specific policies related to transfer requests being either approved or denied. It also asked if denying general or hardship requests based on performance review was standard procedure. DPS didn’t immediately respond to KXAN’s questions. 

Green provided the outlet with a copy of the most recent performance evaluation, with the 20-page manager evaluation showing SA Green “met or exceeded” all expectations of his position, except two measures related to his level of productivity. 

Green explained his lack of productivity was easily explained by the distraction of his father’s diminishing health and his inability to serve closer to his El Paso home and, therefore, his family. 

The evaluation further stated that his overall performance “meets expectations.” Also, it acknowledged that he received a Chief’s Award in August 2023 for his involvement in the investigation and arrest of a suspect planning a mass casualty event. 

“His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of the Criminal Investigations Division and reflect great credit to himself, his division, and the Texas Department of Public Safety,” the evaluation read. 

On Sept. 1, 2023, Green’s father was transferred to hospice care due to his spiraling health condition. Green submitted three additional transfer requests, including two hardship requests, and all were denied because of the performance evaluation. This is despite a letter written by the hospice care provider describing that his father’s “prognosis and life expectancy are poor.” 

In a Sept. 13, 2023 memo, Green wrote: 

“I find myself isolated and hopeless as I am unable to get back to El Paso to provide help to my family. I stand on God’s word and pray that I will be allowed to get to El Paso to serve my father in his final days and provide for my mother’s needs as she finds herself alone in this hard time.” 

In response to Green’s heartfelt memo, the CID chief, who was not identified, continued relying on the performance evaluation in denying his transfer request. Then, in what appeared to be a heartless addendum, the CID chief added, “Additionally, SA Green’s father was ill when he transferred from El Paso to Austin in 2021.” 

Having nowhere else to turn, Green decided to take a leave of absence to tend to his father and mother. At a distance of approximately 575 miles, traveling back and forth between Austin and El Paso was not an option. 

Ironically, the DPS website claims a “family-oriented work environment” is one of the primary reasons to work for the department. Green’s experience, however, shows those are just words. 

KXAN contacted the Texas DPS for comment and has yet to hear back. Meanwhile, Green told the outlet he has been on leave for two months and is currently reevaluating his career. 

“I need to do what’s best for my family,” he said.