Wife Gets Temporary Protective Order Against EPISD Superintendent

The leader of the largest school district in El Paso has a court order restricting his access to his own daughter.

El Paso Independent School District Superintendent Lorenzo Garcia cannot go near his home because of a protective order issued against him based on the allegations of Lorenzo Garcia’s soon-to-be-ex-wife, Tamara Garcia.

Lorenzo Garcia ‘s side of the story has not yet been heard in court and he has not been charged with any crime.

In court documents, his wife said he committed acts of family violence – an allegation he strongly denies.

“I’m going through a divorce, ” said Lorenzo Garcia.

ABC-7 has learned this stems from a call made to police from EPISD Lorenzo Garcia’s West Side home on Sept. 5.

According to police, a report was never made because Lorenzo Garcia left the home by the time police got there. Garcia told ABC-7 he left at his home at the wife’s request.

Three days later, Tamara Garcia applied for – and was granted – a temporary protective order claiming Garcia violated a previous orders to not visit the home and quote, “engaged in acts of family violence.”

“This is a private matter,” said Lorenzo Garcia.

Tamara Garcia claimed in court documents that Lorenzo Garcia shoved her twice.

Garcia’s wife claims to be “fearful and believes the family violence will occur again.”

“This is a temporary thing that will get resolved in the near future,” said Lorenzo Garcia.

A judge granted the order in effect for 20 days from testimony heard only from Tamara Garcia.

Lorenzo Garcia must stay away from the West Side home and UTEP, where his wife attends school.

When asked if this order keeps him from doing his job, Lorenzo replied, “Absolutely not.”

The order also alleges Garcia stopped by a neighbor’s house to visit his daughter and when she heard his voice she ran into a bathroom and called her mother “scared and afraid.”

It is another claim Lorenzo Garcia strongly denies.

“The neighbors that we have are wonderful people and the relationship between my daughter and I are very positive and at this time it’s a private matter, thank you.”

According to the police department there have been two domestic disturbance calls made to the Garcia West Side home – July 28 and Sept. 5.

Police said neither one generated a police report, typically because no crime was found to have been committed.

A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1.