Informal Chat Focuses on SAPD

San Angelo Police Chief Tim Vasquez loosened his tie last night as the guest speaker at Elizabeth Grindstaff’s monthly town hall meeting.  An informal chat at Glenn Jr. High School with constituents of SMD 5 and others interested in the latest updates in city happenings were in attendance.

Chief Vasquez began by talking about the bank building at 301 W. Beauregard that is proposed to be converted into the new police department building. City council approved the purchase of the building at a meeting recently.

According to Vasquez, “We’re not sure what we are going to do with the building. We are not sure if we are going to renovate it, obviously we would have to add on to that building,” he said. “As we progress in the process we will have architects take a look at the building and assess if it’s useful and we can use it, if we can, we will,” he said. “During that process we have two other pieces of property on that [plot] to acquire,” he said eluding to the Eskimo Hut that faces Abe St. “I think overall that location is a prime spot for a police station, a very good location for accessibility, it’s got great visibility, and it's [easy] for us (police) to get in and out of as well.”

According Vasquez, a study determined in 2011 that the SAPD would need 108,000 square feet of space to house the department, an amount based off of the projected population growth between now and 2030.
Grindstaff and Vasquez outlined some of the existing problems with the building the SAPD has occupied since 1963.

“When you start walking through the building you realize quickly that there are sometimes three and four people working in a space that was really only meant for one,” said Grindstaff.  “The evidence room is actually multiple rooms including old jail cells, they have had major system failures, improper maintenance. It’s a building that has been band-aided for a very long time,” she said. “I’m a big believer in reusing, but I think that for the growth we will and have seen in the city, it has clearly outgrown that space.”   

Structural and sewage issues are just a couple of more of the issues that can be added to the long list of issues with the current location. Vasquez says the department has been dealing with them for years, even using rookies as basic repairmen at times.

Next year brings another election for Chief of Police. After Brownwood eliminated its elected police chief position in 2010, San Angelo is the only city left in the state that holds an election for police chief. As one attendee pointed out, in theory anyone could run for police chief in an elective type setting, even someone who has no law enforcement experience whatsoever. That in itself is the main reason most cities appoint, not elect their police chiefs.

“If I look at it unselfishly, and look at what’s really better for our community I have to stay appointing the position is the best way to go,” said Vasquez. “One reason is every time we have an election, there are problems within the organization. You can see it first hand, and statistically our production goes down because of coffee pot politics. We see relationships detoriate because one person is for or against another,” Vasquez said of the negative fallout from police chief elections.  

He also said that having an election eliminates the possibility of well-qualified applicants to apply for the position. One attendee pointed out that having an experienced outsider's view on the city police department could be an excellent opportunity for law enforcement and the community to grow together.

Another said they could have an adverse reaction on the department, and bring in unpopular ideas. No matter what your opinion, for now the SAPD will elect a new chief next year or re-elect Vasquez.

Vasquez has also just rejoined the New Bridge Family Shelter board in an effort to save the sinking non-profit that provides care and protection to victims of domestic violence in the Concho Valley. “We currently have enough funds for ten more days, the shelter is not out of danger yet, it needs support.”

And for those that remember the chief as a member of Funky Monkey (a local jam band), you can anticipate Chief Vasquez return as its drummer when the group plays a benefit in June.