A thirty year veteran of the Houston police force has been fired.

Officer Mike Hamby was competing in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo barbecue competition when he allegedly threw a tear gas canister into the tent of a rival cooking team; Fayette County Cookers.

The tent included several military veterans some of whom were amputees. After a lengthy investigation Officer Hamby has been relieved of duty.

In the past Mr. Hamby had seven complaints sustained against him but was not terminated until the barbecue incident.

Prior to the dustup Hamby had served as team captain of the Calf Scramble Committee.

Out here in Texas we take our barbecue very seriously but normally draw the line at throwing grenades at war veterans.

Normally.

Coverage of the affair:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7631349.html