Texas woman’s social media post leads to an entire police department’s permanent shutdown: ‘Not a shock’
An arrest that led to it getting investigated.
A police department in Texas had been shut down after it failed to prove it provided any benefit to the local community. The state’s decision came after police arrested a woman who made complaints about the city’s contaminated water supply in a social media post.
In May, Jennifer Combs, a resident of Trinidad in Henderson County, Texas, was arrested by the Trinidad Police Department after she made a post on Facebook that implied residents were hospitalized due to bacteria in the city’s water pipes. She was booked in jail for the night and charged with a felony for a false report, which was later dropped, according to FOX 4.
Police officials argued that Combs’ post was false and had only created “unnecessary fear and confusion” within the Trinidad community. However, a notice issued by the city in April had advised local residents to “avoid harmful bacteria” by boiling water, contradicting their arguments.
Trinidad Police Department failed to meet standards
A day after Combs’ arrest, police arrested a citizen journalist for displaying a “f*** bad cops” sign outside the city hall. The man was later released, and his charge for disorderly conduct was dropped. This arrest, however, led the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCLE) to open an investigation into city officials.
On Sept. 9, TCLE reportedly announced to Trinidad’s mayor, Dennis Haws, that the city’s license to operate a police department would be revoked. Reportedly, the decision came after TCLE determined the police department couldn’t present evidence that the “agency provides public benefit to the community” and that it “failed to meet minimum standards,” such as missing 18 requisite policies for certain situations and lacking resources for officers, following an Aug. 5 investigation.
Haws claimed the decision to shut down the police department was “not a shock.” He added, “There’s been a lot of neglect through the years. We are moving in a positive direction. We’ve got to get past all of this.”
The police department’s then-chief, Charles Gregory, resigned in June when a grand jury didn’t indict Combs. Combs later filed a lawsuit for wrongful arrest, claiming the arrest was politically motivated.
City’s water supply is now being investigated
County judge Scott McKee claimed the police department had intentionally withheld crucial information when they asked him to sign an arrest warrant for Combs. He condemned Gregory’s leadership and questioned “the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of information” given to him by officers.
Following the announcement of closure, Combs shared a new statement on Facebook. “For months, citizens who questioned this department were dismissed, attacked and in my case arrested. Now the state agency responsible for regulating Texas law enforcement has confirmed that this department could not demonstrate compliance with even the minimum standards,” Combs said. “We were never the problem. We were exposing it.”
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has launched an investigation into the water supply issue following the incident. Meanwhile, the Trinidad Police Department will officially close its doors on Friday.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
