Rio Hondo reviewing candidates for public safety director

RIO HONDO - City commissioners will conduct background checks on six candidates for public safety director, including acting Police Chief Charles Lopez and former San Benito public safety director Orlando Garcia, officials said Wednesday.

Commissioners met Tuesday behind closed doors to review applications for the job three months after they fired Public Safety Director Sam Martinez for holding a second job at a pizza parlor.

Commissioners requested that staff run criminal background checks on the candidates, Commissioner Gerald Hartzog said.

Commissioners asked City Administrator Arturo Prida to confirm that the candidates hold state certifications as peace officers, City Attorney Jan Cassidy said.

"We want to make sure they're authentic," Hartzog said.

Candidates include Lopez, who has served as acting police chief since commissioners fired Martinez after 10 years on the job, saying that Martinez failed to disclose his second job at a Pizza Hut in Harlingen.

The list of candidates includes Garcia, who was San Benito's public safety director for about five years before being stripped of his role as police chief last November.

San Benito City Manager Manuel Lara fired Garcia as fire chief in April.

Other candidates are Douglas A. Montgomery, a lieutenant at the Santa Rosa Police Department, and Daniel E. Cruz, a deputy sheriff for security at the Cameron County Courthouse.

Humberto Barrera Jr., a former Precinct 4 deputy constable, and Don Duncan, a part-time deputy constable with Cameron County's Precinct 3 and 5 offices, are also seeking the position.

Hartzog said he expects commissioners to hire a new chief within about two weeks.