Dallas police officer and freshman Republican State Rep. Frederick Frazier of McKinney is facing calls from constituents to resign his seat in the Texas Legislature after he accepted plea deals in two criminal cases tied to his 2022 primary campaign for House District 61.
On Tuesday, Frazier appeared in a Collin County courtroom and pleaded guilty to one count of criminal mischief, a Class C misdemeanor, for vandalizing campaign signs of his primary opponent Paul Chabot. Frazier was fined a maximum $500.
Frazier also pleaded no contest to two counts of attempted impersonation of a public servant, a Class A misdemeanor, for claiming to be a code compliance officer during incidents involving Chabot’s signs. He received one year of deferred adjudication probation and was fined the maximum $4,000 for each charge.
His attorney asked the court to reduce the fines due to Frazier’s “financial situation,” but the judge stayed with the agreed-to terms of the plea deals.
“For me it was vindication,” said Chabot, who was also in the courtroom Tuesday. “He told voters I was lying and said he wanted his day in court. If he was going to stick to his word, he would’ve gone to court.”
Paul Chabot
Prior to his election in 2022, Frazier said he was “looking forward” to defending himself in court and getting the scandal “cleared up as fast as possible.”
Yet as soon as he took office, Frazier requested and received several legislative continuances—a perk that allows lawmakers to delay their court proceedings.
Chabot said he is glad voters finally got to hear the truth.
Once the evidence came out, Chabot said it was “crystal clear” what Frazier had done. “The evidence was so damning he had to take a plea.”
Frazier pleaded down the impersonation charges from third-degree felonies to misdemeanors. A felony conviction would have been grounds for expulsion from the Texas House.
Multiple constituents told Texas Scorecard Frazier should resign his House seat.
“The fact is, he cheated his way into office,” said HD 61 resident Tammy Warren. Tammy and her husband Robert Warren helped organize a demonstration in front of the courthouse Tuesday morning with signs calling on Frazier to resign.
“McKinney deserves better, Collin County deserves better, and the state of Texas deserves better,” she said. “We gave him a chance, and he failed miserably.”
“Our main focus is to get rid of corruption in local government,” said Cathy Gruen, who volunteers with the advocacy group North Texas Conservatives. “Frederick Frazier is a corrupt official. Impersonating an official to hurt your opponent is a lack of integrity and will not be tolerated.”
“I’m sick and tired of the corruption,” said John Donnelly, who also lives in Frazier’s district. “Anyone else would not get this treatment. Somebody’s got to stand up or it’s going to continue.”
He said the “good old boy network” allowed Frazier to hush up his scandals until after the election, and as a result “he’s been down in Austin making decisions.”
“He really just stole the election,” added Donnelly. “Is that the message you want to send out to other voters or to children?”
McKinney resident Rachel Elliott said Frazier’s behavior disappointed her “as a parent and as someone who wants our children to be taught the difference between right and wrong.”
“Why would I want my child to look up to someone like that?” she said. “Frazier is a big disappointment and should resign out of respect for parents and the community.”
Chabot also says Frazier should immediately resign from his elected office, as well as from his job as a Dallas police officer.
“Frazier is unfit for office,” Chabot said, adding he was disappointed Frazier didn’t take the opportunity in court to apologize for his actions.
Frazier is expected to leave the Dallas Police Department with a dishonorable discharge because he is retiring while under investigation, according to Assistant Chief Monique Alex.
He has been on administrative leave since he was indicted on the felony charges in June 2022.
An internal affairs investigation found evidence that Frazier’s sign shenanigans violated the department’s rules of conduct. An investigation report cites surveillance camera video showing Frazier vandalizing Chabot’s signs.
Frazier was also named in a civil suit accusing him and others of taking money intended for families of fallen officers from a Dallas Police Association charity he headed.
Despite his legal troubles, Frazier announced in July that he was running for re-election.
Frazier has drawn two GOP primary challengers, Chuck Branch and Keresa Richardson.
Dozens of elected officials and law enforcement groups endorsed Frazier’s campaign in 2022. Gov. Greg Abbott recently endorsed Frazier for 2024 as well, along with every House Republican who supported his school choice plan for education savings accounts.
Chabot is calling on the governor and all other elected officials and organizations to withdraw their endorsements of Frazier.
It’s been nearly two years since Mr. Frazier was first investigated for multiple crimes targeting my campaign. Eventually, the truth came out—but not before he did incredible damage to himself, the office of a public figure, and that of a law enforcement officer. Not only has he denied the allegations in the past, but as a candidate he spent thousands of dollars mailing voters stating I made up the allegations, slandering my name. Mr. Frazier is a disgrace to political office and those wearing a police uniform.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton supported Frazier in 2022 but has endorsed both of Frazier’s current primary opponents. Paxton is endorsing against all Republican incumbents who voted in favor of his impeachment, which includes Frazier and all other members of the Collin County delegation.
