Police Chief Candidates Set for Tonight's Great Debate 2016

Tonight is the final segment of The Great Debate 2016 hosted San Angelo LIVE! and Townsquare Media 960 AM KGKL. All of the candidates have signed on for tonight's debate, so citizens will once more have an opportunity to hear what candidates Chief Tim Vasquez, Frank Carter, Jeff Davis and Mike Hernandez have to say in response to the many in-depth questions asked by mediators Joe Hyde, publisher of San Angelo LIVE!, and Brandy Ramirez, Editor-in-chief. Citizens will also have an opportunity to submit their questions to the candidates. KGKL's Boomer Kingston will keep the show rolling.

The Great Debate will kick off this evening at 6 p.m. at the RiverView, so come out and enjoy Chef Carlos Estrada's renowned dishes while hearing these candidates discuss important issues facing San Angelo. Click here for tickets.

In the meantime, San Angelo LIVE! reporters asked each candidate to provide a little more information on themselves, and here is what they had to say (in no particular order).

Frank Carter, Candidate for Chief of Police

From: San Angelo, Texas

Family: Married to Shane Carter for 23 years. They have two children, Ryan Carter, 21, and Kayla Carter, 18. Both graduated from Central High School and attend college while working part-time in San Angelo.

How long have you lived in San Angelo?

"48 years (excluding military time)"

How long have you been in a public officer? (In San Angelo as well as other places)

“I was hired by the San Angelo Police Department in 1992, and October 1^st of this year, I will have 24 years of service.”

Why are you running for Police Chief?

“Over the years, I have been asked to run for chief by citizens and officers. I feel like the time is right in my career and that I have the management skills, leadership, and experience to move our department forward. I know our strengths and weaknesses, I want to capitalize on our strengths in an effort to reduce crime and make your city and neighborhoods a safer place.”

What can you bring to the Police Department?

“Proven leadership, experience, and dedication. I was hired in 1992, promoted to supervisor in 1999 and commander in 2002. I have had the privilege to command all three patrol shifts: Criminal Investigation Division, Lake and Airport Unit, K-9 unit, and Critical Incident Commander.”

Why should be people vote for you?

“I have the experience and the leadership abilities to fix the many problems that the SAPD and this community are facing. I have served as a division commander in many divisions inside this department and know what needs to be changed. I have built a small business from the ground up! My wife has taken over as operations manager and we have been in business for eight years! During this time, I have become very familiar with key issues such as budgeting, work force diversity, and many other factors that will greatly contribute to my qualifications for Chief of Police. The San Angelo Police Department has become stale and is in need of change and new leadership. I ask for your vote on May 7^th for Chief of Police. The changes that I speak of are not only a commitment but also a promise. We can work together to make our city a safer place.”

Tim Vasquez, Chief of Police Incumbent

Age: 46

From: San Angelo

Family: Has two "beautiful daughters:" Mia, 19, and Madeline, 10

How long have you lived in San Angelo?

"All of my life."

How long have you been in a public officer? (In San Angelo as well as other places)

"I have been employed with the San Angelo PD for over 26 years. I started as a dispatcher at 19. I have served as the Chief for almost 12 years now."

Why are you running for Police Chief?

"I am running for Chief of Police because my work is not done here. We have made great strides in reducing crime during my tenure and our goal is a 50 percent reduction before I leave. I am the only qualified candidate who is running for the office. I have bachelor’s degree. I have attended the FBI LEEDS Academy, and I have acquired the experience necessary to serve in this capacity. I believe that my administrative team has the experience and acumen to get us through this unprecedented oil bust in our area. Our city will face some major budget constraints this next year, an issue we saw in 2009 when we assisted the city in cutting $900,000."

What can you bring to the Police Department?

"I bring quality experience. During my tenure, I have navigated our department through officer involved shootings, in custody deaths, and most significantly, through the process of losing one of our officers and my close friend. No other candidate has done this. I have brought, and will continue to bring, innovative ideas that have lowered our crime rate despite having to work with a lean staffing level and a lean budget. I also bring the acquired knowledge that I have gained by working with chiefs throughout our state and our country."

What challenges have you faced during your campaign?

"The challenges I have faced in this campaign have been the battling of campaign rhetoric my opponents have put out there. As normal, there is always a “whisper campaign” behind the scenes trying to sway my supporters. I look forward to the future debates where facts can be presented and not just conjecture and rhetoric. However, probably the biggest challenge has been running a campaign and doing the job I have been elected to do at the same time. Both are very time consuming."

What challenges have you faced as Chief of Police?

"The most significant challenge our organization will face in the future is the major reduction in sales tax revenue. We are already working on a shoe string operational budget and a lean staff. I have lobbied for more officers every budget cycle but have never even had one approved. Our community has seen major businesses lay off people, sometimes 120 employees at a time. We are facing a rise in property crimes because people are struggling. Our job is to understand how economics affect crime in our community and adjust our focus accordingly."

What do you see now in San Angelo that you would want to fix?

"The most significant issue we face, as every community in the U.S. faces, is the use of drugs. Over the years, we have ran educational campaigns focusing on pharmaceutical drug abuse. Drugs affect every socioeconomic class and every race. As a community, we must recognize the need for rehabilitation for the users and stronger convictions for the dealers."

How would you fix it?

"There are so many things we would like to do. From a police perspective, we will continue arresting those who sell drugs in our community. I would love to see harsher sentences for those who sell drugs, but that is not something I have control over. Ultimately, we need to control our border. Until we control our border, our country will be smothered by drugs coming in from Mexico. What we can do, and what we are doing, is providing constant education to our children about the dangers of drug usage. As long as I am Chief, I will never cut our school program. Some would call it cutting off our nose to spite our face. Proactive, preventative programs are what is necessary to battle this nationwide issue. Your officers are working hard. They average about 2.6 drug arrests a day. Sometimes, it takes just one arrest for that person to turn their life around."

Why should be people vote for you?

"First off, I need to say it has been truly an honor to have been elected to serve in this capacity. I love my job and I love San Angelo. My focus is, and has always been, the well-being of this community whether through my work at the police department or my volunteering to serve on boards for many years. Our accomplishments have been recognized across Texas and the U.S. San Angelo has the lowest crime rate it has had since 1985, despite a significant population growth. I have the experience and education to run a department of this size. I believe we have professionalized this organization, and I believe our work is proven. I believe the relationship with the community and their police department is the best it has ever been. I also believe that our level of transparency has helped the media put information out to keep our citizens informed about the happenings in our community. I ask that the community continue to allow me to serve as their Chief of Police and continue the work they know I can do and have done." 

Jeff Davis, Candidate for Chief of Police

Age: 55

From: Abilene, Texas

Family: Married to Alicia; has two daughters. His oldest daughter is in the Marines.

How long have you been in San Angelo?

“I have lived in San Angelo for 50 years.”

How long have you been in a public officer? (In San Angelo as well as other places)

“I am a 25-year veteran of law enforcement. I served 22 years with San Angelo PD and three years with the Department of the Air Force as a civilian police officer at Goodfellow Air Force Base.”

Why are you running for Police Chief?

“I have been in this community for several years, and since I was in the department, I have seen crime on the rise, especially property crimes and drugs. I feel that there needs to be true action taken to curb these crimes and the current administration is not getting the job done; and the three candidates running against me are from the current establishment. They have not made the necessary changes.”

What can you bring to the Police Department?

“I have been in business for myself and I know how to run a business/organization well. I will be a chief that will be in a patrol car accessible to the public. I will structure the department to maximize its potential and provide the service that San Angelo deserves. I will be a role model for all the citizens and the department, on and off the job.”

What challenges have you faced during your campaign?

“I have not met any real challenges to date, but the campaign is not over.”

What challenges will you face as Chief of Police?

“I don't feel that there will be challenges because I will work with city government and local law enforcement to accomplish our goals. If I don't have the answer, I will know where to look to find it.”

What do you see now in San Angelo that you would want to fix?

“The property crime numbers, drugs, gangs, out-of-control spending, officer retention, patrol districts, officer moral, and relations between the public and the police. Mend broken fences with other law enforcement agencies. Civilianize as many jobs as possible within the Police Department.”

How would you fix it?

“Restructure patrol to give better coverage; ramp up the narcotic section. Send out a clear message to gangs and other criminals that they are not welcome here. Set a budget and stick to it. If unknowns come up, then work with City Council to resolve budget issues. Lead with inspiration and motivation, rather than by intimidation. Talk to the public on issues more and listen to their solutions. Have a true open door policy with other law enforcement and retirees. Recruit as many people as possible from our military base and university.”

Why should be people vote for you?

“People should vote for me because I am a man of my word and I will ask the department and the public to hold me accountable for everything that I say and do. After all, an elected official answers to the public. I am a 25 yr. veteran of law enforcement.”

Lt. Mike Hernandez, Candidate for Chief of Police

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Age: 48

From: San Angelo

Family: Married to Lisa for almost 29 years. Has a son, Joshua, 24, and daughter Kelsey, 18.

How long have you been in San Angelo?

I have lived in San Angelo for approximately 43 years, except for my time in the military.”

How long have you been in a public officer? (In San Angelo as well as other places)

“I was in security forces in the United States Marine Corp and have been with the San Angelo Police Department 25 ½ years. “

Why are you running for Police Chief?

“The San Angelo Police Department is my home away from home. The day-to-day business going on within the PD needs to change. We currently have an administration who puts a policy in front of us that requires us to do as I say, not as I do. We have no chain of command, and our administration has no vision for moving forward. It has become stagnant, and it currently is about the betterment of a select few and not about the betterment of the Police Department, or our community for that matter.”

What can you bring to the Police Department?

“I bring leadership through service, which I have been doing my entire career. As a young Marine to a Lieutenant of the SAPD today, I have always led by example and have never asked my troops to do anything I was not willing to do myself. By bringing integrity, leadership and values to the office, I will be an effective leader."

What challenges have you faced during your campaign?

“Due to being the Patrol Lieutenant assigned to the deep night shift, the campaign has caused me to have to work a little harder than those with a normal schedule. I have had to work on my campaign with little or no sleep at times. The face-to-face and door-to-door with the citizens are time consuming and leaves little time for family or self. With that being said, win, lose or draw, it has been an awesome experience to say the least.”

What challenges will you face as Chief of Police?

“Where do I start? As a candidate who says I will come in and change the direction of the Police Department for the better, how am I supposed to make those positive changes when we are losing some of the best veteran officers every day due to the current management-type leadership currently in place? My administration will have its work cut out [for them]. It will not be easy, but I thrive when challenged.”

What do you see now in San Angelo that you would want to fix?

“I want to fix the relationships between the command staff level of the other law enforcement agencies within our city. We also have some fences to mend between city entities and the PD. “

How would you fix it?

“I am a team player and will respect the position of Chief of Police. There is no “I” in team, and I believe I can build the relationships within our community due to my personality and style of doing business.”

Why should be people vote for you?

“In my humble opinion, I have separated myself from the other candidates by ensuring I am in the business of police business. I am the only candidate who has attended the FBI National Academy, which is a prestigious 10-week leadership school and not just a couple of days of class. I am also the only candidate who has worked in narcotics, gangs, special operations and SWAT--all of these specialized units being the units, which have direct hands on to the who’s who of the criminal element of San Angelo. In short, I am a crime fighter, and, with crime on the rise, I have been there and done that and can lead this department from personal training and experience.”