Veteran lawman returns: Guzman named county investigator

By Breyana Segura - Chief Staff Writer | July 1, 2026

“Teaching our officers how to effectuate better arrests…”

Bringing over 35 years of law enforcement experience back to his hometown, longtime resident Ricardo Guzman has been named the new investigator for the Frio County Attorney’s Office.

Guzman, whose extensive career spans field operations, agency administration, and specialized prosecution investigations, steps into the role following the departure of former investigator Rey Trevino.

According to Frio County Attorney Joseph Sindon, Guzman’s recent appointment is slated to strengthen local prosecution efforts and enhance inter-agency training across Frio County law enforcement.

Guzman has a deep familiarity with Frio County and its residents since relocating in August 1990 to become a deputy for the sheriff’s office.

Guzman moved to the Pearsall Police Department in March 1994, serving as a lieutenant when he left in November 2005 to become an investigator for several district attorneys’ offices throughout Texas.

Expanding his investigative scope, Guzman spent more than two decades specializing in felony and specialized casework within the Texas judicial system, including the 81st and 293rd judicial districts of Texas.

The county attorney said Guzman will primarily focus on conducting supplementary investigative work on all Frio County misdemeanor and juvenile cases.

Sindon noted that while some case files are complete upon arrival, many lack the critical components necessary to secure a conviction in a court of law.

Guzman will be tasked with identifying and resolving these shortfalls, which frequently include missing victim or witness statements, police reports, and vital audio or visual evidence.

Beyond evidence collection, Guzman’s daily operational duties will include interviewing victims and witnesses, serving legal subpoenas, gathering certified records for trial, securing restitution for victims of property crimes, and providing an extra layer of security for citizens visiting the courthouse.

“This is largely due to the fact that there is a greater evidentiary threshold for conviction of a crime than there is for an arrest for committing a crime,” the county attorney said. “Having insufficient evidence is often the primary reason for cases not being prosecuted by the state. He will be tasked with filling these evidentiary gaps and assisting me in creating stronger cases for later prosecution.”

A secondary pillar of Guzman’s role involves using his administrative and field expertise to provide ongoing training and tactical assistance to law enforcement agencies in the county.

“His experience, both in the field and in administration, will be put to use teaching our officers how to effectuate better arrests; therefore creating stronger cases for trial,” the county attorney said. “The net result will again be that more cases presented for prosecution are filed and that justice is served.”

The investigator’s position, originally established by county commissioners in 2017, continues to serve as a vital bridge between initial street-level police work and final courtroom prosecution.

“We also wish our former Frio County investigator, Rey Trevino, continued success at his new position with the city of Pearsall Police Department,” Sindon said. “He will undoubtedly bring the same level of professionalism, honesty and sense of duty to his new position as he brought to work here every day. We remain dedicated to finding ways to better provide for the safety our community and look forward to providing more service and dispensing more justice.”

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