CHIEF SUSPENDED: Primera's Rodriguez put on probation over porn photos

PRIMERA — Police Chief Joe Rodriguez was suspended for one week without pay and placed on probation for six months Tuesday after he was accused of sending pornographic photographs to a cell phone.
City aldermen met in closed session late Tuesday to consider what action to take about an incident in which the chief was alleged to have sent five pornographic photos two weeks ago to a Cameron County constable’s county owned cellular phone.
Mayor Pat Patterson announced the decision when the meeting reconvened in open session.
“We sit here as the aldermen and alderwomen and myself, feeling that we’re going to make the right decision for the city of Primera,” the mayor said. “The people of Primera elected us to do the right decision. At this time what we’re going to do is put Chief Rodriguez on one week’s non-paid leave and six months’ probation.”
The mayor said the matter was given careful consideration.
“We’re going to retain him as the chief,” Patterson said. “Things do happen that affect your life. He knows now not to let that happen ever again. Because we have to search ourselves to do the right decision. I feel the city of Primera did the right decision tonight.”
Aldermen then passed a motion to enact the punishment unanimously.
The chief and his wife left City Hall quickly after the meeting, refusing to talk to reporters or residents.
Retired Harlingen and Palm Valley police officer Paul Campbell, a Primera resident, said he doesn’t know all the facts.
“I think from what I’ve heard, it’s fair,” he said of the City Council’s decision.
From his experience as a police officer, the decision was about as good as Rodriguez could have hoped for, Campbell said.
“I think everyone has to remember that police chiefs have to maintain their personal lives just as well as their duty lives. They have to maintain much higher accountability for what they do. They represent the citizens and the offices of that department. I think everybody deserves a second chance, but we all need to be held accountable for what we do, especially chiefs of police.”
Local resident Sylvia Gonzalez said, “I think he’s already suffered enough. … I wish he didn’t have to go without pay. He’s a good chief and we want him back where he belongs.”