A small Texas police department is being shut down after state regulators determined that it failed to meet the minimum standards required of a law enforcement agency. The decision affects the Trinidad Police Department, with policing in the community now set to be handled by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement notified Trinidad Mayor Dennis Haws in a September 9 letter, stating that the department had failed to meet required standards and could not demonstrate that it provided a public benefit to the community. Regulators also identified 18 missing policies. The decision follows months of controversy surrounding the department, including the May arrest of local mother Jennifer Combs after she posted online about concerns over Trinidad’s drinking water. Combs alleged that bacteria in the water had caused people to become ill, while police said her post created unnecessary fear and emergency response. However, town officials had issued a boil-water advisory weeks earlier, warning residents about potentially harmful bacteria.
The controversy continued when citizen journalist Winston Noles was arrested after displaying a critical sign outside City Hall. Charges against both Combs and Noles were eventually dropped, while Police Chief Charles Gregory resigned in June. Following the state’s decision, Combs said residents who questioned the department had been dismissed or criticized and argued that the latest findings supported their concerns. Mayor Haws acknowledged that the department had experienced problems for years, describing the shutdown as a step toward moving the community in a more positive direction. Before the decision, the Trinidad department had five full-time officers along with several part-time officers. With the state now requiring the department to close, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office will take over policing responsibilities, marking a significant change for the small community as local officials work to address the concerns that led to the department’s closure.
