GARZA: DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I PROMISED DURING CAMPAIGN

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Well, despite all the nice promises and "compromisos" Eric Garza made to the sheriff's department personnel – and that he preached over and over to the voting public – it appears we're back the same old same old.

One of the things now-Sheriff Garza repeated over and over was that he was going to end the compadrismo and to focus on training the jailers right. 

Well, take it from someone who knows and a fact that has become clear to people who work at the department: compadrismo is alive and well and perhaps even more prevalent now in the Cameron County Sheriff's Department

Take the case, for example, of Ramblado Rivera, one of Sheriff Garza's most fervid supporters (in photo at top left in Garza campaign gear with a sign and at top right in the white shirt giving the camera his best side). 

Rivera was hired as a jailer, but even when the jail is understaffed and the correction guards have been required to work 12 hours shifts and are continually being exposed to COVID, the sheriff's pal now leads a charmed existence.

Ramblado, who is a "jailer" is working 8 hours a day, weekends off, in the office with Garza. 

Ramblado, although listed on the salary schedule as a "jailer," but later walking on the Sheriff's Office parking lot with another deputy, wearing a white long sleeve shirt with black pants. That's what the well-dressed jailer is wearing in Garza's new and improved sheriff's department.

Luis Mendieta, who you can see in the photo at left campaigning for Garza, is now on the payroll as well. 

Although he is now hired and is still on probation and not yet covered by civil service, he has already been given use of a 2021 Dodge Ram and put in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) above a lieutenant and a sergeant and on top of the list.

The roster photo at right shows his badge number is 309 and his name is on top of the that list.

Silver Cisneros (left), who also campaigned for Garza was just hired as regular deputy, but was given a marked supervisor unit (a 2020 Tahoe) and a supervisor call sign (118). His basic duties, according to various reports, is to be basically at the office at Garza's beck and call. As far as anyone can see, he has no other duties. 

Keep in mind that there is a patrol shift that is short working with just six  deputies while these deputies slots are being taken away to wait hand and foot and guide the new sheriff at his office.

And even though you won't find him listed on the salary schedule as a chief deputy, Robert Gracia, one of Garza's main financial and campaign supporters, has forsaken driving his very noticeable Red GMC truck and now favors parking his gray Mercedes in the spot formerly reserved to real chief deputy Gus Reyna.

Now that everyone knows he was driving the red truck which stood out like sore thumb, a more discreet gray luxury car may be less noticeable. Talk about undercover!

As Garza said during the campaign, there are no compadres or favorites here, buddy! Just my favorites!

Y aun hay mas!

(Stay tuned)