Slaton Police Officer Has Resigned: Subject of Dept. Homeland Security Investigation

Slaton, Texas

City officials say the Slaton police officer involved in a recent U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigation resigned last week but declined to give further details, including the officer’s name.

Individuals from Homeland Security arrived in Slaton last Tuesday for an investigation on one police officer not the entire department, said Slaton Police Chief Royce Goodson.

The officer in question has been employed with the Slaton Police Department for more than 10 years.

Last week, Homeland Security took one computer from the police department.

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Brownsville Police Officer Indicted for Exchanging Information for Cash

Brownsville, Texas

Brownsville Police Officer Enrique Marks was indicted last week by a Cameron County grand jury for barratry.

According to the indictment, he's charged with helping a man get information about a car accident victim for an attorney's office. In return, the indictment claims Marks received some money.

Marks has been suspended without pay.

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San Antonio Cop Already on Leave for Driving Drunk Has Done It Again

San Antonio Police Officer Roland Alvarado

San Antonio, Texas

A trooper with the Department of Public Safety stopped San Antonio Police Officer Roland Alvarado and subsequently arrested him on a charge of driving while intoxicated.

The DPS, however, was not able to provide any specific details regarding the arrest.

Alvarado was taken to the Comal County Jail and released about three hours later, after posting a $2,500 bond, jail records show.

Alvarado, 43, was already on administrative leave from the police department since his arrest three months ago on a drunken driving charge.

He was taken into custody Feb. 11 after hitting a park car outside of a local club. Investigators at the scene said Alvarado smelled like alcohol and failed a field sobriety test.

It's unclear how the latest arrest will affect his career with the police department. A request for a statement from SAPD or an interview with Chief William McManus was not honored.

When contacted by phone, Michael Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, said that he was "sad to hear about "the second arrest” and that Alvarado "has been having a rough time lately."

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Taft Police Officer Fired & Arrested for Sexual Assault of a Child

Taft, Texas

Police in Taft have confirmed arresting one of their own. Armando Padilla, 22, was charged for sexual assault of a child and was also terminated from the Taft Police Department.

"This is disheartening. We are working hard to put the shine back on the badge in Taft and hold them accountable. If you're wearing a badge or not, we still hold you accountable," said Chief Landreth.

Padilla has been working with the Taft Police Department as a patrol officer for a year.

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Ft. Worth Police Sergeant Accused of Falsifying Time Records Fired

Fort Worth, Texas

A veteran Fort Worth police sergeant has been fired on accusations that he repeatedly worked only three to four hours a day but fabricated his time sheets to indicate eight-hour shifts.

Two other jail sergeants, also in focus of the investigation, avoided discipline Friday. One resigned from the Police Department and the other by voluntarily taking a demotion.

A fourth sergeant, who officials say left early on only one occasion, received a commander's admonishment.

John C. Ost, who had been with the department since 1990, was terminated effective Tuesday.

Sgt. Donald McFarland resigned Friday, on the same day he was scheduled to meet with Police Chief Jeff Halstead to be disciplined. As required, the department will notify the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education that McFarland, a 25-year veteran, was "dishonorably discharged."

In a meeting Friday afternoon with the chief, Sgt. Jeff Valmores voluntarily accepted a demotion to corporal in lieu of termination.

Ost had previously been suspended five times since 1997, including a five-day suspension after his third car wreck, according to the letter. In all, Ost had 19 sustained violations on his internal affairs record.

McFarland had 12 sustained allegations in his internal affairs record, Henderson said. Civil service records show he had only been suspended once, for 30 days in lieu of termination in April 2009 over allegations of family violence.

"I think the chief has made it very clear from Day One that the public expects police officers to come to work every day, to work hard and to possess the highest levels of integrity," said Lt. Paul Henderson, a police spokesman. "We have a great Police Department. The vast majority possess those three key elements and it's unfortunate that a very minor percentage can tarnish our reputation."

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La Joya Police Chief Found Dead of Possible Suicide: Colleagues Say He Had Problems

Update: Autopsy results confirm self-inflicted gunshot wound. Source

La Joya, Texas

A colleague of a South Texas police chief found dead in his patrol car says his boss was having personal problems.

Police Chief Jose Del Angel was found dead in his car on Thursday night. While awaiting autopsy findings, fellow officers believe it was suicide, rather than a homicide.

Officers say that Del Angel was having problems at home. The 44-year-old worked in La Joya for 17 years, starting as a dispatcher and rising to police chief in 2008.

La Joya is located just outside McAllen.

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Parker County Deputy Indicted for Felony Theft

Weatherford, Texas

A Parker County sheriff's deputy accused of stealing from a memorial fund for a fellow officer who died in an off-duty accident has been charged with felony theft.

An indictment issued by a Parker County grand jury last Thursday charges Seth Aaron Miller, 29, of Springtown, with 11 thefts between January and March. He's accused of stealing up to $20,000 from the fund established for the widow and child of Sgt. Rusty Arnold, who died in December.

The charge is a state jail felony. If convicted, the deputy could face a maximum sentence of two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.

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