After public intoxication arrest, Mission police sergeant retires

A sergeant retired from the Mission Police Department in May — seven weeks after officers found him behind the wheel of a stolen car and charged him with public intoxication.

Sgt. Adan Beltran retired on May 16.

“I would like to commend the men and women of the Mission Police Department for their professionalism and unwavering dedication to duty,” Beltran wrote in his resignation letter. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve and protect the citizens of Mission, Texas.”

In the letter, which didn’t mention his arrest, Beltran said he retired to “pursue other opportunities.” Beltran couldn’t be reached for comment.

Police Chief Cesar Torres said he didn’t ask Beltran about the decision.

“Not too sure what was going through his mind,” Torres said. “But I received the letter and I accepted the letter.”

Adan Beltran in March 2023, when the Alamo Police Department charged him with public intoxication. (Image courtesy of the Alamo Police Department.)

Beltran graduated from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School and enrolled at Texas State Technical College, where he earned a certificate in surgical technology.

After working at two medical clinics, however, Beltran decided to switch careers.

Beltran joined the Mission Police Department in November 2002. The job paid $14.43 per hour.

During the next two decades, Beltran worked his way up.

In October 2017, though, other Mission Police Department officers found Beltran asleep behind the wheel of a black Toyota Tundra.

“Beltran seemed to be dazed and wanted to know what was going on,” according to a report written by Mission police Officer Randy Davila, who took the call.

Davila could smell “a strong odor of alcohol” coming from the Toyota Tundra.

“I advised Beltran that he fell asleep in the drive thru of the Jack in the box,” according to the report. “Beltran replied ‘no I’m at whataburger.’”

Beltran failed a standard field sobriety test.

Officers charged Beltran with public intoxication, a Class C misdemeanor. Beltran pleaded no contest and paid $221.

The Mission Police Department, meanwhile, suspended Beltran for 12 days without pay.

It wasn’t the first time Beltran had been charged with public intoxication.

When he applied for the job, Beltran disclosed that he’d been charged with public intoxication in “Approx 1993.” Beltran was charged with public intoxication again in 2009, according to Pharr Municipal Court records.

The arrests didn’t stop Beltran from rising through the ranks.

In June 2020, the city promoted Beltran to sergeant. Mission honored Beltran with a ceremony at City Hall and congratulated him with a Facebook post.

In March 2023, however, Beltran found himself in handcuffs again.

On the morning of March 25, two officers with the Alamo Police Department found Beltran behind the wheel of a stolen Chevrolet Avalanche.

Beltran, who wasn’t wearing any shoes, appeared confused and couldn’t explain how he ended up with the Chevrolet. Officers said he smelled like alcohol, but Beltran denied he’d been drinking.

After the officers detained him, Beltran said he worked for the Mission Police Department.

“You’re a sergeant from Mission Police Department?” Officer Rogelio Alaniz Jr. responded, according to body camera video released by the Alamo Police Department.

“Hey, don’t burn me, man. Come on,” Beltran said. “I’m trying to be discreet here.”

Alaniz walked away to make a phone call.

“No way,” Alaniz said to himself. “There’s no way.”