Dallas County DA Susan Hawk Extends Leave To October
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By Jack Fink | @cbs11jack
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - After taking time off to receive treatment for depression, Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk says she will return to work Friday, October 2. Hawk told her staff in an email she sent Monday morning.
It was back on July 30 when Hawk told her First Assistant she'd be taking a break from work.
But it wasn't until after repeated questions from reporters about her whereabouts, that Hawk announced August 25, she'll take four weeks of unpaid leave. Paperwork she filled out said that was through September 30. But she'll be back October 2.
In her email, Hawk told employees, "I want you to know that I'm healthy and I have a plan to stay that way."
Attorney Robert Hinton is a friend of Hawk's family and is happy to hear the news. "Whatever the plan is, I'm glad she's got it, and that she has professionals who are involved in this and who care. She's going to be fine."
A former colleague of Hawk's, John Creuzot, who served as a Dallas County Judge along with Hawk, is considered a potential future rival. There is speculation he will run for DA as a Democrat against Hawk, a Republican.
Creuzot says, "Even if October 2nd is not good enough, she needs to be honest about it and state it and take as much time as necessary to be well when she comes back." He also says, "I think she needs to give the public an honest explanation of where she's been and what's wrong and what her plan is to go forward."
A close friend says after Hawk returns to work, she will likely hold her first town hall meeting by the end of October.
Creuzot says ultimately the public will decide Hawk's credibility. "It may already be too late to be perfectly honest. I don't know that it is."
As for Robert Hinton, he says "Susan is a very honest, forthright person."
In her email Monday, Hawk thanked her staff for their support and cards wishing her well and for their hard work and dedication. "I look forward to being back and thanking each of you in person. And, I look forward to continuing to serve our communities while we continue to make our office the most respected DA's office in the nation."
But her tenure in office since January has been marked by controversy and drama within the office.
Hawk has fired some of her top managers, including Bill Wirskye, her initial choice to serve as First Assistant DA.
Those who have been fired have said Hawk was paranoid and accused them of being out to get her.
Hawk also dismantled the office's new digital forensics lab, designed to speed up criminal cases. Before the lab was created by former DA Craig Watkins, the county had to rely on similar labs from federal agencies, which caused delays in prosecuting cases.
Hawk receives more than $210,000 a year. The state provides $140,000 for her salary, and Dallas County pays the remainder and an additional $7,500 in car allowance.
In Texas, there is no set amount of vacation days elected officials receive. It's up to them to decide how much time off to take, but many follow the policies that apply to their employees.
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