Chief braces for summer surge during officer shortage

By Breyana Segura - Chief Staff Writer | May 22, 2024

Pearsall Police Chief Daniel Flores has told city councilors that an increase in calls is expected during the summer months at the same time as he continues dealing with an officer shortage.
Records filed at City Hall show that the police department budget covers 22 positions but only 15 are presently filled.
“It is not just here,” the police chief said during the Tuesday, May 14, meeting. “I went to a police chief training and the staffing issue, it is all over the state.”
Flores provided councilors with a monthly report for April which included 77 incident calls which resulted in 86 listed offenses. Officers arrested 27 individuals on misdemeanor and felony charges; wrote 208 incident reports; issued 84 citations; gave out 120 warnings; conducted 39 security checks; and answered 589 calls for service.
“We are expecting to get into six hundred calls in the summer,” Flores said.
During April, officers were successful in removing 23 grams of methamphetamine, six grams of marijuana, seven grams of heroin and one THC vape from the streets.
Animal control began the month with 10 animals at the city pound and ended with five.
“We started a cadet program; we are going to try it out and hopefully it works,” Flores said. “ We have a person we are sponsoring.”
Councilor James Leal questioned the police chief over plans to address a four-day school week for the upcoming year. Leal suggested the chief meet with school police and deputies to develop a plan and ask for assistance to increase patrol on Fridays.
“At the end of the day, no matter who is helping us, we still have to write that report,” Flores said.
Councilor Tiffany Talamantes said she understands the shortage at the department and that the school was hosting a meeting to develop a plan for Fridays and asked that the curfew be enforced.
“There is no law to curfew,” the police chief said.
According to the city’s Code of Ordinances, Chapter 34, Section 34.69, minors should abide by the following curfew hours: 10 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday until 6 a.m. the following morning; from 12:01 until 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday; and, if enrolled in school, be at their respective school from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
The ordinance was passed In December 1993 and amended in October 1996.