Reprint from the Progress Times - June 1, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

Palmhurst Appoints New Police Chief

After a lengthy interview process where three candidates were considered, a committee made up of Palmhurst Alderman Frank Rodriguez, Mayor Ramiro Rodriguez Jr., Alderwoman Irma Garcia and Mayor Pro-Tem Janie Cantu-Cabrera unanimously named Ronald Cooper police chief in a called meeting May 22.

Cooper, who has over 1,400 hours of law enforcement training as well as experience in Weslaco, the Hidalgo County Sheriff's office and Palmhurst, replaces Rick Garza who resigned to pursue a business opportunity.

Cooper is looking forward to serving the community.

"Because this is still a relatively new department, I'm looking hopefully to spend the next 12 years here. I like the community," said Cooper. "Right now our biggest problem would be traffic on Mile 3 Road. With the construction right now, Palmhurst is right in the middle. We're a population of a little over 5,000, but on any given day during the week, the amount of traffic flowing through here triples the population so to speak."

Although only on the job for a little more than a week, Cooper already has a plan for the Palmhurst PD.

"This is a small community and you have to be actively involved in every aspect. Out on the street the Chief needs to be an investigator, to be able to work traffic accidents, and direct traffic as well as public relations," said Cooper. "Because the community isn't too big, we're just right for what I have named Citizens of Palmhurst Against Crime (COPAC), which will be an organization that meets once a month. We have two churches that will provide us with a gym where we can bring in speakers to give talks on different areas such as how to protect your home, self-defense tactics or child seat carriers. It will be a chance for the community to get together and meet their neighbors."

Cooper also has plans to make the Palmhurst police department a 24 hour a day operation. Palmhurst employs two part time officers and five full time officers. The city is currently looking to hire an additional full time officer.