What used to be hushed whispers among administrators and deputies at
the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department has now become an open secret across law enforcement circles here. On at least three occasions, Sheriff Omar Lucio has wandered off on his own without letting anyone know where he is, or what he’s doing.On these occasions, it has taken other officers, including deputies, local constables, and police to locate Lucio and bring him back to his office at the Carrizales-Rucker County Detention Facility (the county calaboose). Deputies and officials are loath to confirm any of these reports, but a few are talking as though the situation is more serious.
“He’s got some kind of memory problem,” one ventured. “It’s getting worse. The last time, he was found out in Las Rusias and he couldn’t explain what he was doing out there.”
The task of locating the wandering lawman repeatedly has fallen on the lap of Pct. 6 constable personnel, whose precinct is nearby.
But if the treks down memory lane were to grow longer, it is not beyond plausibility that others may soon be on the lookout for Omar when the wanderlust strikes again.
The issue has not reached the point where it has become critical, but we wonder at what point some sort of administrative action may have to be taken to protect both the sheriff and the county residents he is under oath to protect.
His right-hand men at the department – Gus and Javier Reyna – have been able to avert any public indications of their boss’s apparent condition. But then again, Omar doesn’t need their problems, either.
For example, Gus denied knowing that the lucrative jail commissary contract was awarded (without competitive bidding) to Snakre, a company under management by Rick Zayas and Ruben Cortez. Cortez, by the way, is the Reyna’s cousin. But of course, Chief Deputy Gus Reyna didn’t know.
And then there’s a curious circumstance involving his brother Javier, a sheriff department investigator. Sources from the Brownsville Police Department tell us that their department was called out to his home on a domestic altercation. The local daily has not reported on any such incident, although the jailer who was arrested and charged with domestic violence did make their news columns.
If the sheriff is making out like King Lear, and the underlings like Merry Pranksters, doesn’t it make one feel safe to live in this great county?
4 comments:
Is the calaboose something like the hoosecow?
Should not our sheriff at the ripe old age of 65 have a mandatory yearly physical? Who knows they might find the beginnings of Alzheimers or dementia. The way things are he is not only a danger to the citizenry but to himself. Most importantly, does he still carry a pea shooter?
The hoosegow, da clink, on ice, etc., Yeah, it's all the same thing. Nothing but peanut butter sandwiches and cold milk for breakfast before the talacha.
he is 76
pobre viejo,,,,
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