TRINIDAD, Texas — The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement has ordered the Trinidad Police Department to disband after finding that the agency failed to meet minimum standards and could not show that it provided a public benefit to the community.
TCOLE informed Trinidad Mayor that the police department “failed to meet minimum standards” and “was unable to provide evidence that the agency provides public benefit to the community.”
The state’s action follows months of controversy in the small Henderson County city, including the arrest of a woman over a Facebook post about the city’s water supply.
In May, authorities charged Jennifer Combs with felony false alarm after she posted about problems with Trinidad’s water. Combs later filed a lawsuit against the city, describing her arrest as political retaliation.
The charge was later dropped. State investigators subsequently identified several problems with the city’s water system that needed correction.
The arrest drew national attention and prompted TCOLE to investigate the police department.
Police department lacked resources and policies
TCOLE found that the department lacked basic resources for officers, including bulletproof vests and an evidence room.
Investigators also found that the department lacked nearly two dozen required policies covering areas such as use of force, active shooter incidents, vehicle pursuits and officer professional conduct.
Trinidad City Council member Steven Stearman said the department’s closure could allow the city to redirect money toward other priorities, including its water system.
“Depending on how we fluctuate the funds, we might fix the water sooner,” Stearman said. “To me, that’s what I would suggest we do immediately.”
Stearman described the shutdown as a failure of accountability.
“It didn’t happen overnight,” he said. “The state finally came in, stepped in and shut it down.”
Sheriff’s office to handle law enforcement
TCOLE will strip the Trinidad Police Department of its licenses by Friday.
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office will assume law enforcement responsibilities in Trinidad while city officials determine a long-term public safety plan.
The sheriff’s office had already responded to certain calls after the district attorney said his office would stop accepting cases that relied solely on Trinidad police investigations.
Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers continue to investigate city and police officials in connection with multiple controversial arrests amid the ongoing water controversy.
