Texas Revokes Trinidad Police Department's Authority Amid Misconduct Probe
State regulators cited failures to meet minimum standards and provide public benefit, months after controversy over a resident's arrest for posting about water quality.
The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) has revoked the Trinidad Police Department's authority to appoint or continue employing licensed officers, effective Friday. The decision comes after months of controversy surrounding the small Texas city's police force.
TCOLE cited in a Sept. 9 letter that the department "failed to meet minimum standards" and "was unable to provide evidence that the agency provides public benefit to the community." Regulators also identified deficiencies in basic resources, including bullet-resistant vests and secure evidence storage. Additionally, the department lacked 18 required policies covering critical areas such as use of force, vehicle pursuits, professional conduct, active shooters, and misconduct investigations.
Interim Police Chief Cameron Beckham attributed the department's issues to "piss-poor management" by previous leadership, while disputing some of TCOLE's findings and asserting that many deficiencies had since been rectified. The department has been under scrutiny since May, following the arrest of Trinidad resident Jennifer Combs.
Combs was arrested on a felony charge of making a false alarm or report after she used Facebook to collect and share concerns about the city's water supply. She posted photos, videos, and accounts from residents, aiming to document complaints for state investigators. Combs spent 23 hours in jail before a grand jury declined to indict her. A subsequent protestor, Winston Noles, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct outside City Hall, a charge that was later dismissed.
Former Police Chief Charles Gregory resigned in June, and Combs has since filed a federal lawsuit against the city and Gregory, alleging political retaliation. Former Trinidad Municipal Judge Shellena Bivens was also dismissed after dismissing the charge against Noles. Henderson County District Judge R. Scott McKee raised questions about the "accuracy, completeness, and reliability" of information provided by Trinidad officers in an affidavit for a search warrant connected to Combs' arrest. The Texas Rangers confirmed an investigation into Trinidad in July, though its scope was not disclosed.
City leaders plan to meet with their attorney to discuss potential next steps, which could include an injunction or appeal, according to Mayor Dennis Haws. TCOLE's revocation order requires Trinidad to fulfill ongoing obligations regarding personnel records, traffic-stop data, and unresolved misconduct investigations.