The Lubbock police Department has announced the resignation of Officer April Mora following her arrest on charges of falsifying a child’s birth certificate. This development comes a month after Mora and Lubbock Fire Rescue firefighter Jonathan Forkner were taken into custody on similar allegations.
The case, which involves a complex web of personal relationships and legal implications, has drawn significant attention from the community and media outlets such as the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and Amarillo Globe-News.
The Arrests and Charges
On May 19, 2026, both April Mora, 38, and Jonathan Forkner, 39, were booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center. Mora faces four counts of false record on a birth certificatewhile Forkner is charged with two counts. The allegations stem from an alleged plot to keep the biological father away from the child, according to court records.
Both individuals were released on bond later that day. Mora’s bond was set at $3,000, and jail records indicate Forkner was also released on bond. Mora is represented by attorney Matt Morrow, while Forkner is represented by Charles Chambers.
The Investigation and Resignation
The Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit initiated an investigation on April 29, 2026, after learning about the potential falsification of Mora’s child’s birth records. The investigation revealed a love interest and a consternation between the two partiesaccording to Lubbock Police Chief Seth Herman.
Mora had been placed on paid administrative leave on April 15, 2026, for an unrelated investigation. Following the new allegations, she was placed on unpaid leave on May 19, 2026. On June 19, 2026, the Lubbock Police Department confirmed Mora’s resignation, which was submitted earlier that afternoon.
The Lubbock Fire Rescue has not yet responded to requests for information regarding Forkner’s employment status or the status of their investigation. The Lubbock Police Department’s internal Office of Professional Standards investigation has been completed, but additional details were not immediately available.
The Public Statement
In a news conference on May 19, 2026, Chief Herman emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability within the department. “The Lubbock Police Department recognizes the amount of trust that is placed within our department and the men and women who serve this community, which is why when an officer is implicated in a criminal offense, we believe it is of supreme importance to come to you, the public, with this information,” Herman stated.
The ongoing administrative investigation limited the department’s ability to release additional information about the case. Mora, who began working for the police department in, has been a member of the force for a decade.
As the community continues to follow this developing story, the resignation of Officer Mora marks a significant turning point in the case. The legal proceedings and internal investigations will likely provide further insights into the complexities of this unusual situation.
