Three years after his dramatic release from county jail, former Dallas Police Officer Bryan Riser is feeling vindicated once again.
Riser has been fighting to clear his name and regain his freedom after being accused of two murders. “He’s very, very happy now—much happier and feels vindicated,” said Riser’s attorney, Dallas criminal defense lawyer Toby Shook.
In 2021, Riser was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder, accused of hiring hitmen to kill Albert Douglas, 61, and Liza Saenz, 31, who were killed weeks apart in 2017. A witness came forward in August 2019, implicating Riser and prompting Dallas Police Department (DPD) to investigate one of their own.
Riser spent five weeks in jail before a contentious hearing raised doubts about DPD’s evidence and a detective’s actions. The hearing concluded with prosecutors and the judge agreeing that there was insufficient evidence to proceed, leading to the dismissal of charges and Riser’s release.
Last month, Riser secured another victory in a separate hearing before an administrative judge reviewing his appeal over his firing. “At the end of that hearing, the judge found in favor of Bryan Riser, ruling that the grounds for his firing were unfounded,” Shook said. “This led the city to offer a settlement rather than continue the hearing.”
The city’s settlement offer included reinstatement and back pay for the past three years, but with the condition that Riser resign from the police force. Riser agreed to this settlement and resigned, although Shook did not disclose the exact amount of back pay received.
A spokesperson for the city of Dallas stated, “The City of Dallas does not comment on personnel matters.”
Riser recently posted a photo on his public Facebook page with a T-shirt reading: ‘Checkmate.’ Despite his exoneration, Shook noted that the damage to Riser’s reputation from the capital murder charges remains significant. “The negative publicity has tarnished his reputation. You Google his name, and you see ‘capital murder arrest,’” Shook said. “The damage is done, which is why he’s still pursuing a civil case.”
DPD confirms that the 2017 homicide cases remain open. Shook asserts that Riser had no involvement in the murders. “It’s still an open case, but I am confident he will never be arrested because there is no evidence linking him to the crimes,” Shook said. “Bryan Riser had nothing to do with these murders; he is completely innocent.”
Chief Eddie Garcia, who was new to Dallas at the time, fired Riser despite his predecessor, Chief Renee Hall, previously determining there wasn’t enough evidence to place Riser on administrative leave. “Chief Garcia is a great police chief, but he was given incorrect information,” Shook said. “He relied on the detectives for accurate information.”
Shook believes this case highlights the need for thoroughness in high-profile investigations. “This case shows the importance of double-checking the accuracy of affidavits and being honest about the evidence, especially when arresting someone for a sensational crime,” he said.
Shook’s downtown Dallas office displays news clippings from high-profile trials, including Riser’s 2021 exoneration. “You think you’ve seen everything after years in this field, but then you get a case like this,” Shook said. “It was a very satisfying victory.”
