SAN ANTONIO – The Bexar County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday that one of its own had been arrested for assault.
Detention Deputy Joseph Barbier was arrested June 22 on charges of assault after deputies responded to a family disturbance at his home.
Barbier is the latest among the BCSO force to find themselves on the other side of the law.
On June 7, San Antonio police arrested deputy Mario Rios on a DWI charge after an officer found him sleeping in his car along Loop 410 at Military Drive. The car was still in drive.
On May 31, SAPD took deputy David Ramos into custody on a criminal mischief charge after he allegedly broke the side mirror of his ex-girlfriend's car.
Deputy Robert Serros was arrested May 23 for allegedly assaulting his wife.
On Jan. 9, deputy Billy Torres was arrested for burglary after investigators say he stole from a local Walmart after hours on Christmas Day.
Torres had been working security for the store while off duty with BCSO. He is no longer a BCSO employee.
Three of the five charges facing these BCSO deputies are domestic in nature -- a fact not lost on Sheriff Susan Pamerleau, who is a survivor of domestic abuse.
Acknowledging the stress of a career in law enforcement and corrections, Pamerleau urges personnel to seek the help available, such as counseling, before crossing a line.
"We have a volunteer chaplain program," said Pamerleau. "Fifteen chaplains who provide a ministry of presence. And that's in every division across the Sheriff's Office. We also have an individual who is a clinical psychologist, Ph.D. And he's also one of our reserve deputies."
Pamerleau herself is a domestic abuse survivor.
She believes the accusations against her deputies are part of a larger community-wide family violence problem.
"Here in San Antonio and Bexar County, the numbers are off the charts," she said. "In my view, this is an epidemic. Family violence is an epidemic in our community."
The sheriff would not comment on the individual arrest of her deputies but addressed the potential consequences.
"When someone lets this stress get past the point of seeking help and really getting help to deal with it, then its a career ender," said Pamerleau.
Per department protocol, all BCSO employees facing criminal charges are place on a 10-day administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
All the accused deputies except Torres are now awaiting court appearances. Torres' case is under review by the Bexar County District Attorney.