Palmhurst suspends embattled police chief

PALMHURST -- Palmhurst Police Chief Ron Cooper will be suspended with pay while an attorney investigates allegations the embattled officer dismissed as "political bull."

This small town has been in political turmoil for months, with Cooper's job performance a key point of contention between Mayor Ramiro Rodriguez and the three-person majority on the city council.

Cooper filed a grievance against Mayor Pro-Tem Janie Cantu-Cabrera last month, complaining that she was harassing him by combing through call logs and micromanaging daily operations at the eight-officer police department. Cantu-Cabrera, who had criticized the operation of the department, responded with allegations that Cooper was engaging in politics and improperly criticizing the city administration.

A city employee also filed a grievance claiming Cooper was rude to her.

Around 20 residents, including two former city managers and at least one former alderman, attended Tuesday's meeting, packing the small council chambers and spilling into the hall. Many voiced their support for Cooper.

Tuesday evening's meeting was more civil than an August meeting that ended with shouting and a walk-out by Cantu-Cabrera and allies Jaime Aranda and Ruben DeLeon. However, some testy exchanges, particularly between Rodriguez and Aranda, revealed that underlying tensions remain.

City attorney Darrell Davis said personnel attorney Arnold Aguilar of Brownsville will conduct the investigation into both sides' complaints.

"There's a lot of things that need to be investigated," Cantu-Cabrera said when asked what precisely Aguilar will be asked to determine.

"They don't have any legitimate complaints," said a visibly upset Cooper. "They've just opened themselves up to a lawsuit.  I don't want to sue the city, but I'm not going to be pushed around by those three."

Cooper was appointed to serve as chief last year, after two years as an officer with the new department. Former police chief Ricardo Garza built the Police Department from the ground up in 2005. He left the department to invest in Quiznos sandwich franchises.

Rodriguez expressed enthusiastic support for Cooper.

The police force in the town of 5,000 will be reduced to six full-time officers and one part-time patrol officer/victim specialist.

Cantu-Cabrera promised that public safety would be first priority, and that the city could draw on the department's reserve officer program.

Cooper said the reserve program was cut from the budget last year.

Monday evening, after council members ended a lengthy executive session and announced the suspension, City Manager Lori Lopez said she did not know yet who would assume control at the small police department