Interim chief’s first priority is to regain community trust
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Two weeks ago and with city council approval, Mayor Ray Jaso appointed Detective Fernando Garcia as chief of police.
The action followed the city council’s decision to place Chief Chris Brock on administrative leave without pay, after he was indicted by a Refugio County grand jury for misusing drug seizure funds.
Brock turned in his badge, gun and keys and Garcia locked the door to Brock’s office. It remains intact.
“I have nothing bad to say about the chief,” Garcia said. “He brought the department a long way by selecting the good, high-quality officers that we have today.”
The interim chief said the department will maintain its open door policy and conduct police business as usual.
“This is not a political office,” he said. “Our top priority is to keep the community safe.”
But Garcia admits the officers have some challenges ahead.
“We really worked hard to gain the trust of the community,” Garcia said. “It was a big blow to the reputation that we worked so hard to gain.”
Garcia said he’s gotten positive response from the town but he’s also heard rumors that some people believe that other officers involved in the alleged charges against Brock.
“It’s not true,” Garcia said. “The first sign I had that an investigation was underway is when the Texas Ranger walked in the door. That’s when the chief told me what was going on.”
Garcia brings 17 years of experience to the top cop position. With an uncle and cousin in law enforcement, Garcia has always wanted to be on the force.
He graduated from the academy in San Antonio when he was 24 and began working in the sheriff’s department in Bexar County. He was assigned to the school district in the gang unit. In 1996, he accepted a job in the constable’s office in Nueces County and then the city marshal’s office in Corpus Christi, working in juvenile law. In 2001, he came to Refugio as a reserve officer. One month later, a position came open and he was hired.
“It took me a while to get to know the people,” Garcia said. “The community took me in and now Refugio is my home and I don’t intend to go anywhere else.”
Garcia says “chief” is just a title.
What you do for the people is more rewarding than a title, he says.
“The biggest challenge I have is building trust,” Garcia said. “The community has been hurt as much as the department has.”
The action followed the city council’s decision to place Chief Chris Brock on administrative leave without pay, after he was indicted by a Refugio County grand jury for misusing drug seizure funds.
Brock turned in his badge, gun and keys and Garcia locked the door to Brock’s office. It remains intact.
“I have nothing bad to say about the chief,” Garcia said. “He brought the department a long way by selecting the good, high-quality officers that we have today.”
The interim chief said the department will maintain its open door policy and conduct police business as usual.
“This is not a political office,” he said. “Our top priority is to keep the community safe.”
But Garcia admits the officers have some challenges ahead.
“We really worked hard to gain the trust of the community,” Garcia said. “It was a big blow to the reputation that we worked so hard to gain.”
Garcia said he’s gotten positive response from the town but he’s also heard rumors that some people believe that other officers involved in the alleged charges against Brock.
“It’s not true,” Garcia said. “The first sign I had that an investigation was underway is when the Texas Ranger walked in the door. That’s when the chief told me what was going on.”
Garcia brings 17 years of experience to the top cop position. With an uncle and cousin in law enforcement, Garcia has always wanted to be on the force.
He graduated from the academy in San Antonio when he was 24 and began working in the sheriff’s department in Bexar County. He was assigned to the school district in the gang unit. In 1996, he accepted a job in the constable’s office in Nueces County and then the city marshal’s office in Corpus Christi, working in juvenile law. In 2001, he came to Refugio as a reserve officer. One month later, a position came open and he was hired.
“It took me a while to get to know the people,” Garcia said. “The community took me in and now Refugio is my home and I don’t intend to go anywhere else.”
Garcia says “chief” is just a title.
What you do for the people is more rewarding than a title, he says.
“The biggest challenge I have is building trust,” Garcia said. “The community has been hurt as much as the department has.”
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