The mayor of Trinidad, Texas, told KDFW-TV earlier this week he wasn’t surprised that the state shut down his city’s police department.
“It was not a shock,” Mayor Dennis Haws said. “I’m not gonna say that it was.”
“There’s been a lot of neglect through the years,” Haws added.
Haws received a letter from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement last week informing him the city’s license to operate its own police department had been revoked, according to KDFW-TV. The Trinidad Police Department employs five full-time officers and several part-time officers. The community of 860 residents sits about an hour southeast of Dallas.
The state agency determined the department “failed to meet minimum standards” and “was unable to provide evidence that the agency provides public benefit to the community,” KDFW-TV reported. An investigation found the police department lacked 18 required policies, including those on use of force, vehicle pursuit, professional conduct, and active shooters.
Moving forward, Trinidad will receive law enforcement support from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, with the city exploring options for a designated deputy from that office. “We are moving in a positive direction,” Haws told KDFW-TV. “We’ve got to get past all of this.”
The city has faced controversy since May when citizen journalist Jennifer Combs was arrested and charged with a felony after posting about water issues on Facebook. Trinidad Police Chief Gregory resigned from his position on June 19, stating at a City Council meeting he had “nothing to hide” regarding Combs’ and Knowles’ arrests. The chief cited pending lawsuits when asked for an interview by KDFW-TV.
Additionally, the judge who approved the search warrant for Combs wrote a letter criticizing Gregory and his police department following the chief’s resignation. That letter questioned “the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of information presented” to him by two Trinidad police officers about Combs’ case.
The Henderson County District Attorney’s Office also announced in August it would stop taking cases from the Trinidad Police Department. The city currently issues a boil water notice for residents north of the intersection at Hwy 274 and Old River Rd., due to low water pressure and chlorine residual, warning children, seniors, and individuals with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable.
