Texas Firefighter Suspended for Shoplifting
HOUSTON --
High-profile Houston firefighter Jane Draycott has been suspended by the Houston Fire Department.
Officials said Draycott was suspended for shoplifting from a Walmart in August.
Draycott agreed to a plea agreement on the shoplifting charge and was given probation.
The HFD suspended Draycott for 15 days without pay for breaking four HFD rules in connection with the case.
Fire department officials said she violated the department's overall rules of conduct, a rule that requires firefighters to understand and comply with the rules, a rule requiring all firefighters to abide by the law and a rule of conduct and behavior.
Draycott has filed an appeal hoping to get the suspension overturned.
Draycott was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting at a Walmart in the 21100 block of Kuykendahl Road at 9:30 p.m. in August.
Detectives said Draycott was at the checkout counter and left the line to go to the ice machine. She then walked toward the door with unpaid items and was stopped by loss prevention officials, investigators said.
Investigators said Draycott tried to steal a DVD player, two DVDs and a bag of ice that totaled $218.90.
Draycott was in uniform at the time of her arrest, officials said.
She was charged with misdemeanor theft between $50 and $500 and released on a $500 bond.
In 2009, Draycott said she and another female firefighter at Station 54 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport were the targets of racist and sexist graffiti found scrawled on their lockers.
The city conducted an investigation into the graffiti, but it was inconclusive.
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