Trinidad, Texas Police Department Shuttered Amid Controversy

The mayor of Trinidad, Texas, Dennis Haws, mentioned in an interview with KDFW-TV that he wasn’t caught off guard by the state’s decision to dissolve the city’s police department. He expressed a sense of recognition about the situation, saying, “It was not a shock.” He received notification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement last week, informing him that the city’s license for its police department had been revoked.

With a population of only 860, Trinidad employs five full-time officers and a few part-timers, located just over an hour southeast of Dallas. The Commission cited that the police department “failed to meet minimum standards” and lacked evidence of any public benefit being provided to the community.

The state agency’s investigation revealed that the department was missing 18 mandatory policies, which included critical areas like use of force, vehicle pursuits, and handling active shooter situations. Haws acknowledged the lingering neglect over the years.

Going forward, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office will take over law enforcement duties in Trinidad. The mayor conveyed to KDFW that the city is considering the appointment of a dedicated deputy from the sheriff’s office for better support. Haws remarked, “We are moving in a positive direction. We’ve got to get past all of this.”

Controversy surrounding the Trinidad Police Department intensified following the arrest of citizen journalist Jennifer Combs in May. She was charged with a felony related to a Facebook post discussing issues with the city’s water quality.

The incident surrounding Combs escalated when she mentioned reports that individuals were hospitalized after consuming the city’s water. In response, the police chief claimed that her post provoked fear and unnecessary emergency responses within the community. Eventually, a grand jury opted not to indict Combs, leading her to file a federal lawsuit against both the City of Trinidad and Police Chief Charles Gregory, accusing them of deliberate political retaliation.

In a related string of events, citizen journalist Winston Noles was arrested soon after Combs for misdemeanor disorderly conduct while protesting in front of City Hall. His charge was subsequently dismissed.

Following these events, Chief Gregory resigned after stating during a council meeting that he had “nothing to hide” regarding the arrests. His last day with the department was June 19. The police chief has declined interview requests amid ongoing lawsuits.

Additionally, the judge who had approved the search warrant for Combs later criticized Gregory and his department, raising concerns about the accuracy of the information the officers provided regarding the warrant.

In August, the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office publicly stated that it would cease taking cases from the Trinidad police department entirely.

Regarding the problematic water issues, Trinidad’s official website displayed a boil water notice, advising residents to boil their water due to low pressure and other health risks. The notice particularly cautioned vulnerable groups, including children and seniors.