Salinas calls it quits at PD

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Pearsall police chief will join new administration at sheriff’s office

Four years after being promoted as Pearsall Police Chief, local resident and longtime law enforcement officer Peter Salinas has decided to resign his position and become chief deputy for the Frio County Sheriff’s Office.
“With a heavy heart I would like to thank the citizens of Pearsall for allowing me to work with them over these past seventeen years,” Salinas said in a candid interview on Tuesday afternoon. “I am humbled to have been asked to join the staff of Sheriff-elect Mike Morse as his chief deputy.”
The 1998 PHS graduate attended the Bexar County Sheriff’s Academy in 2000 and San Antonio College Law Enforcement Academy, earning a Texas peace officer certification. In 2010, he earned an advanced Texas peace officer license, the second highest peace officer certification recognized by the state.
For the past 17 years, Salinas has worked his way

up the ranks to chief of police; in January 2015 Salinas spearheaded creation of a police department for Pearsall ISD.
“I have long been invested in the future of this community,” Salinas said. “I hope to continue to make this community better and I feel it is only natural to now assist at the county level.”
Among his credentials and extensive training, the county’s next chief deputy has several hours of training in all aspects of law enforcement with specializations in crime scene investigation with an emphasis on narcotics law enforcement and interdiction.
Through experience in law enforcement and what he describes as his desire to take pride in his department, Salinas became a self-proclaimed grant writer.
Salinas says he was able to obtain a number of state and federal grants totaling nearly $200,000 for the city police. The funds were used for equipment and technology used to combat crime in the community.
The departing police chief also says he believes he brings strong rapport between law enforcement agencies to his county position.
“I just want to express my gratitude to the Mr. Morse for this opportunity,” Salinas said. “I am very excited and hopeful for the things our joint efforts can and will accomplish.”
Newly elected sheriff for Frio County and set to take office January 1, Morse said this week that he believes Salinas will serve the people the county well in his new capacity.
“I’m elated to have Peter as part of my staff,” the incoming sheriff said. “I think he’s one of the best police chiefs in South Texas. He will be one heck of an asset to our office to build a new foundation.”
Jeremy McGhee has been named Pearsall’s interim police chief.