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New police chief takes over in Primera
PRIMERA — City officials earlier this week appointed a new police chief following the departure of chief Clemente Cantu.
Manuel Treviño, 48, of Los Fresnos said he is ready to heal any wounds the department may have suffered after the departure of two consecutive police chiefs under controversial circumstances.
Treviño said he was sworn in Tuesday and is pleased to have completed his first week as the police department’s top law man.
City Manager Javier Mendez said Friday the Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Treviño. He was one of two candidates for the job, but Mendez said he could not release the name of the other applicant.
Mendez said Treviño has his full confidence, adding that the new chief was vetted and hired after working as a police investigator for six months.
Since October 2011, the police department had a revolving door for the top law enforcement job in the city.
Former chief Joe Rodriguez resigned after Cameron County Precinct 4 Constable Robert Lopez accused him of sending pornographic images to his county-issued cell phone. Rodriguez was suspended without pay in October and resigned a short time later.
Earlier this month Cantu, police chief for just two months, was fired after a dispute with another person.
Mendez said aldermen voted “no confidence” in Cantu and removed him from his position.
“My main goal is to respect the badge I wear and the police department,” Treviño said. “I’m ready to repair any black eyes due to past experiences.”
Treviño said he has experience in several branches of law enforcement. He said he started his law enforcement career in Los Fresnos in 1990, where he worked as an investigator. He moved to the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department for about six years, where he started as a patrol officer and was later promoted to an investigator, and then a supervisor.
Most recently, he worked as an investigator for the Cameron County District Attorney’s office.
“I want to assure the community that I’m here to stay and willing to put my best efforts forward to ensure safety and my civic duty to the citizens of Primera,” he said.
