Texas Moves to Shut Down Police Department Over Lack of Public Benefit

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, or TCOLE, will strip the Trinidad Police Department of its authority to appoint and retain licensed officers effective Friday, escalating a months-long controversy involving the small Texas city’s police force.

In a Sept. 9 letter sent to Mayor Dennis Haws, TCOLE said the department had “failed to meet minimum standards” and could not show that it provided a public benefit to the community.

State regulators identified shortcomings in fundamental police resources, including bullet-resistant vests and secure evidence storage. They also said the department was missing 18 mandatory policies, with gaps involving use of force, vehicle pursuits, officer conduct, active-shooter incidents and investigations into misconduct.

During Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Interim Police Chief Cameron Beckham faulted prior leadership for the department’s condition. He also challenged portions of TCOLE’s assessment, saying many of the cited problems had already been corrected.

“Piss-poor management is what I’m just going to say,” Beckham told council members.

The Trinidad Police Department has drawn heightened scrutiny since May, when resident Jennifer Combs was arrested on a felony charge of making a false alarm or report after she posted online about concerns over the city’s water supply.

In a May 20 Facebook post, Combs said she was collecting photos, videos and firsthand accounts from residents dealing with water issues. Her goal, she said, was to document the complaints and urge state investigators to test water inside residents’ homes. Combs spent 23 hours in jail before a Henderson County grand jury declined to indict her.

Citizen journalist Winston Noles was subsequently arrested and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct while protesting outside City Hall. That charge was later dismissed.

Former Police Chief Charles Gregory resigned in June. Combs has since filed a federal lawsuit against the city and Gregory alleging political retaliation. Prior News Media reporting also documented that former Trinidad Municipal Judge Shellena Bivens was dismissed after throwing out Noles’ charge.

Henderson County District Judge R. Scott McKee also later questioned the “accuracy, completeness, and reliability” of information Trinidad officers provided while seeking a search warrant connected to Combs’ arrest.

The Texas Rangers confirmed in July that they had opened an investigation involving Trinidad but did not disclose its scope.

Haws told News Media that city leaders will meet with their attorney Friday morning to discuss their next steps. He said the meeting could involve several options rather than being focused solely on keeping the department open.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Haws said the early meeting time would leave the city time to pursue measures such as an injunction or appeal if advised by counsel.

“We are going to work through this process according to the law and at the direction of our attorney as we go through it,” Haws said.

TCOLE’s letter also states that revocation does not relieve Trinidad of continuing obligations involving personnel records, 2026 traffic-stop data and unresolved misconduct investigations.

News Media reached out to TCOLE for further comment.