WATCHTOWER

Contact

Direct channels for tips, professional inquiries, corrections, peer review submissions, and partnership requests. Free for cities and public bodies. Reader-funded.

There is no charge for contacting Watchtower. Cities, counties, special districts, residents, whistleblowers, and civic organizations can all reach out at no cost. We address public matters, and refer private matters to the city attorney, a licensed private attorney, or a licensed private investigator as appropriate.

Email

General

Questions, corrections, media requests, and professional inquiries.

[email protected]

Tips

Confidential intake for information about Texas local government compliance, expenditures, and conduct. Source identities protected.

[email protected]

Network

Partnerships, advocacy groups, attorneys, and civic organizations.

[email protected]

Phone and Mailing Address

Mailing Address

Watchtower CI
PO Box 247
Italy, TX 76651

Send a Tip

Watchtower investigates credible submissions from community members, public employees, and civic professionals across Texas. The tip submission page provides detailed guidance on what to include and how submissions are handled.

Submit a Tip

Peer Reviews

Investigative articles undergo independent peer review prior to publication. Drafts are circulated to qualified reviewers to verify accuracy, fairness, and completeness before public release.

Reviewers who have received a document for peer review should refer to the document for the specific email address and subject line to use when submitting feedback. Each review carries its own submission instructions.

Confidentiality

  • Watchtower does not disclose the identity of confidential sources without explicit, written permission.
  • Sources who request anonymity will not be identified in any published work.
  • Information that cannot be independently verified through public records or other primary sources will not be published.
  • A submission may inform a public records request or further reporting; the contributor’s identity remains protected throughout the process.

Important Disclaimer

Watchtower is not a law firm. Watchtower attorneys do not represent clients, and Watchtower does not provide legal advice. Services include governance consulting, investigative journalism, compliance review, training, and documentation support. Training programs address matters of law as understood in the context of municipal governance, but they are educational in nature and do not constitute legal counsel.

Watchtower is not a licensed private investigations firm. Watchtower does not hold a Texas private investigator license issued under the Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 and does not provide private investigation services. Watchtower’s investigative work is limited to matters of public interest involving publicly held government records, public meetings, and information lawfully obtained through the Texas Public Information Act and other open-government statutes. This is journalism and consulting work in the public-records domain. It is not surveillance, locate work, background investigation for private parties, or any other service that requires Texas private investigator licensure.

If you require services that fall under the Texas Private Security Act (Occupations Code Chapter 1702), including covert surveillance, civil or criminal background investigations conducted on behalf of private parties, locate services, or evidence-gathering for private litigation, you must engage a licensed Texas private investigator. Watchtower can provide referrals to licensed professionals in our network where appropriate.

When individuals contact Watchtower with situations involving legal matters, the engagement begins with a discussion of the circumstances to determine whether Watchtower’s consulting and investigative services are an appropriate fit. Where the situation requires legal representation or specific legal guidance, Watchtower refers the individual to a licensed attorney within its partner network whose practice area corresponds to the matter. Where appropriate, Watchtower may also connect the individual with a journalist in its network or report on the public-record facts of the matter directly.

Nothing on this website or in Watchtower’s communications should be interpreted as legal advice or as a substitute for professional services requiring state licensure. For specific legal questions, consult a licensed attorney. For services requiring private investigator licensure, consult a licensed Texas private investigator.