Waelder council backs officer

The Waelder City Council held a special meeting Monday night to consider two topics regarding personnel issues, which they discussed during Executive Session. The first involved the personnel evaluation of Waelder Police Officer Abel Rios.
“There was a complaint by the chief of police about Officer Rios, and the council did not agree with the chief, therefore they overturned his (Rios’) suspension,” said his attorney Peter Gostomski. “So he goes back to work now.”
According to Gostomski, Rios was suspended by Stamps last Tuesday. He confirmed that the reason was job performance related, but did not elaborate.
Chief Stamps told The Cannon that he had his reasons for the complaint, but did not give details.
“I will not talk about what the officer did, but there was more than enough evidence to make the recommendation I made-that’s why I filed the complaint,” Stamps said. “As far as the City Council’s action and its inconsistencies, its done and over with and its time to move forward with a positive attitude and outlook. I have already welcomed the officer back to work, reissued his equipment and he is on the schedule. He’s a part of my Department’s family and he and I will work mutually in rebuilding trust and strengthening our professional relationship.” Stamps said he remains focused on bringing the department together.
“We will heal the wounds and continue with a refreshed mission of fighting crime and collectively, adequately and equally serving our community,” he said. “The citizens of Waelder expect and deserve that dedication from everyone in our Department.”
The council’s vote to reinstate Rios was not unanimous. It was 3-2. Council members Annie Jackson and Rebecca Ayalla (SP) were opposed to the reinstatement, but did not explain their reasons.
Following the meeting, Rios told The Cannon he was glad it was over and ready to return to work.
The second personnel issue on the agenda was vague.  The item described “personnel evaluation/approve employee’s suspension and/or not suspension, but did not include a name or names of the employees.  The council remained in executive session for approximately 90 minutes, much of it after the Rios portion was completed.
The Cannon learned that the discussion involved the suspension of the two city employees arrested last week for theft of government property. Abelardo Ibarra, 35, stole property, including ceiling fans, from a house on North First Street in Waelder, which was owned by the City of Waelder. Ibarra admitted to taking the fixtures and had actually installed the ceiling fans in his home. Ibarra was charged with Theft Over $500, Under $1,500 dollars. The penalty is a State Jail Felony since Ibarra is classified as Public Servant through his employment with the City of Waelder. Another Waelder city  employee, Cleto E. Reyna, 41, was arrested and charged with theft of city property (decking material) located at the police station with the intention of using the government property at his residence. The material was purchased by the City to reconstruct the police department building’s front porch deck. The warrant charged Reyna with the offense of Theft Under $50, a class C Misdemeanor. But like Ibarra’s charge, the penalty is enhanced to one classification higher, since Reyna was a public servant at the time of the theft, elevating his offense to a Class B Misdemeanor.
When the council returned to open session, Ayalla quickly made a motion to “return Reyna to work tomorrow morning.”
Mayor Roy Tovar said, “That’s not on our agenda.”
“But we discussed that just a few minutes ago during Executive Session,” Ayalla replied.
City attorney Tom Robinson said the council couldn’t act on that because “it wasn’t on the agenda.”
“But he was one of the suspensions we talked about,” she replied.
“No, we’re done,” Tovar said, silencing her.
Tovar asked if there were any other actions by the council, and then said, “Number 8 is there for everybody.”
According to Councilman Mike Harris, Reyna was suspended before the arrest, due to having an invalid driver’s license.
No future meeting date was set by the council.