Statewide Police Union Demands Removal of Del Rio Police Chief

A state law enforcement union demanded that Del Rio’s top cop be removed.

 “Public safety has been put at risk by Police Chief James Von Debrow III, who is dead set on stretching his force beyond the levels of common sense,” said Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) Executive Director Charley Wilkison.

CLEAT alleges that Von Debrow’s mismanagement of the department is causing a retention and recruitment problem, reducing the force from 72 to 43 officers. That leaves very few officers to patrol the streets each night in a city of more than 40,000, CLEAT said.

Del Rio Mayor Bobby Fernandez told the Del Rio newspaper that CLEAT is “barking up the wrong tree” and passed the buck to Del Rio City Manager Richard A Eads, explaining that Del Rio is a city manager-run city.

Eads told the Del Rio paper, "The recruitment effort for entry-level police officers has been heavy and successful. On Wednesday, April 30, we have 23 applicants signed up for the police department entry exam. If all 23 applicants pass, we will have more than enough recruits to fill the 13 entry-level slots currently vacant (at the DRPD). The DRPD has a force level of 71. We are currently down 23. That 23 includes 13 entry-level officers, seven senior officers and three sergeants."

The Del Rio paper did not report if Eads addressed the allegations of a retention problem, however.

In February, former interim Del Rio Police Chief Fred Knoll revealed internal Del Rio Police Dept. problems publically. Knoll is running for Del Rio City Council and early voting starts today.