The mayor of Trinidad, Texas, stated earlier this week that it was not surprising when the state revoked his city’s police department license.
“It was not a shock,” Mayor Dennis Haws said. “I’m not gonna say that it was.”
Haws received a letter from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement last week informing him that the city’s license to operate its own police department had been revoked. The state agency cited that the department “failed to meet minimum standards” and “was unable to provide evidence that the agency provides public benefit to the community.”
The investigation revealed the Trinidad Police Department lacked 18 required policies, including those on use of force, vehicle pursuit, professional conduct, and active shooters.
Haws noted: “There’s been a lot of neglect through the years.”
Moving forward, Trinidad will receive law enforcement support from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, and the city is exploring options to obtain a designated deputy from that office. Haws expressed optimism: “We are moving in a positive direction.”
The city has also faced controversy since May when citizen journalist Jennifer Combs was arrested and charged with a felony after posting on Facebook about water issues.
Trinidad Police Chief Gregory resigned on June 19, stating at a city council meeting that he had “nothing to hide” regarding the arrests of Combs and another individual named Knowles.
Additionally, the judge who approved the search warrant for Combs wrote a letter criticizing Chief Gregory and his department, questioning “the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of information presented” by two police officers to him about the warrant.
The Henderson County District Attorney’s Office announced in August it would stop taking cases from the Trinidad Police Department.
Trinidad, with a population of approximately 860 residents and located about an hour southeast of Dallas, currently issues boil water notices for areas north of a specific intersection due to low water pressure and chlorine levels as required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
