A Bexar County jury has awarded a former police officer $1.28 million.  Tomas Padilla was a police officer for the University Health System.  He was terminated in 2009 shortly after complaining that the officer he had replaced was trying to recruit patients and visitors to the hospital to make false claims about Officer Padilla.  Officer Padilla was a supervisor at the time.  The report by Mr. Padilla amounted to a whistle blowing claim.  Government workers in Texas have the right to report violations of law. 

The trial lasted six days.  The jury award includes lost back pay and lost future pay.  Mr. Padilla can now try to regain his peace officer certification.  See San Antonio Express News report.