He is now on administrative leave as the department investigates the events surrounding his arrest on three felony charges. Department policy states that he must be indicted before they can remove him from the city's pay roll.
His bond was set at $500,000 and he is being held at the Lubbock County Detention Center. If convicted on all three counts, McClure faces up to 30 years in prison.
"The charges include two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony, and one count of continuous violence against the family, a third-degree felony," Interim Police Chief Greg Rushin announced during a press conference.
“It’s a really sad day when a law enforcement officer gets arrested. And that’s not very often, though,” Rushin said. “Never forget about all the officers out there every day that are serving honorably, that make a lot of sacrifices for the community. They would lay down their lives for the community.”
Rushin did not go into the details of the actions that led to the charges. But KCBD reported that it all stemmed from his actions towards a subordinate with whom he had an intimate relationship.
"According to court documents obtained...on October 4, 2023, an employee of the Lubbock Police Department reported she was assaulted by McClure. The department said an investigation began immediately.
"According to an arrest affidavit, the employee stated she and McClure began an intimate relationship shortly after she became employed at the department in March 2021.
"The affidavit claims McClure was the employee’s immediate supervisor until February 12, 2022, when he was promoted to deputy chief. While holding the position of deputy chief, the department said he continued to be in this employee’s chain of command."
The sworn statement from the victim indicates that both her professional and personal relationships with McClure began after he allegedly physically assaulted, threatened, controlled, and berated her.
She kept her mouth shut for a period of time out of fear of losing her job. The woman said that she also believed that McClure's violent attitude developed as a result of alleged steroid use.
The allegations of drug use prompted a search of his vehicle. Police found a backpack with an unmarked bottle containing 17 pills that, once tested, turned out to be Tramadol Hydrochloride, a prescription pain reliever.
The statement also claims that the tumultuous relationship worsened after McClure learned of a relationship she had with another officer in the department. She said he used disparaging language towards her and told her she needed to resign.
In December, the actions of McClure allegedly turned physical. She has accused the deputy Chief of slapping her across the face on more than one occasion, pushing her down, choking her and holding a gun to her head.
The investigation is being conducted by the Special Crimes Unit. Lt. Mike Wall commands that group.
“We take those investigations extremely seriously,” Lt. Wall said. “There have been a significant amount of investigative man-hours applied to this investigation. The investigators assigned to this unit as well as forensic investigators have done an incredible amount of work to get to this point.”
It remains to be seen who will handle prosecution if indictments are handed down. The Lubbock County District Attorney's Office has recused itself from McClure's case. The recusal could also lend itself to the defense team requesting a change of venue.
This is a developing story and Law Enforcement Today will provide updates as they become available.
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