Leath McClure, once a high-ranking Lubbock Police Department deputy chief, admitted to pressing his department-issued gun against a woman’s head, choking her, and threatening her life—all while wearing his badge. For this terrifying spree of violence, his “punishment” is 18 months of probation. That’s right: no prison time, just paperwork and a promise to be good.
Initially, McClure faced two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and continuous family violence. But those big-boy charges got whittled down to a misdemeanor plea deal—Deadly Conduct, the legal equivalent of a shrug. He’ll get therapy, substance abuse classes, and a chance to keep living in the county he once policed, while his victim is left to deal with the trauma.
Adding insult to injury, investigators found steroids, Tramadol, and Xanax in his LPD vehicle, but apparently that’s just another footnote in a story about how quickly cops accused of serious crimes get soft landings. He kept collecting his six-figure salary until resigning, too, because in Lubbock, even disgraced cops don’t clock out broke.
The victim, in her impact statement, said she thought she was going to die at his hands. Her parents believed the same. But the justice system? It believed McClure just needed some probation and a Bible verse to get him back on track.
If you’re keeping score: point a gun at someone’s head as a cop, get probation. Steal a pack of gum at Walmart as a regular person, and you’re meeting the county judge before dinner.
