“The Department and DA gave these officers an early Christmas present. They know they can get away with it now. This is not policing; this is corruption at its finest.”

17 April 2024, Texas, Steven Zimmerman – Let’s discuss the El Paso Police Department, the District Courts, and the favors the latter provides to the former.

Sgt John Chavez and his DWI’s Cases

Sergeant John Chaves, who has a history of sexually harassing fellow officers at Mission Valley, managed to pick up two DWI cases in short order. These incidents, he claims, are the result of PTSD.

Chavez was supposed to appear in county Criminal Court 3 on 16 April at 10:45 AM. However, this hearing was reset for a final hearing and plea deadline on 5 May at 10:55 AM.

Why is there another court date? Chavez, his lawyer, and EPPD want this incident to go away.

The public information officer loves to tell the media that police want to be transparent. However, police have never bothered to inform the media or the citizens they serve about Drunk Sgt John Chavez. Why? Chavez is only eighteen months away from retirement. Letting this remain under the rug is cheaper than paying to defend the department for firing Chavez.

“I worked with Chavez at Pebble Hills,” says another officer with the El Paso Police Department. “He needs to be let go, but the department won’t man up and do anything about him or the other bad actors in uniform. You [speaking of me] wouldn’t get many passes on court hearings.”

This is a common thread with many of the officers I speak to.

“The brass, they won’t act,” says another officer. “Once you make LT or higher, it’s like a tax-funded welfare system for them. They don’t want that boat rocked.”

“It’s like a key to the city,” says another officer about this system. “They see it as a blessing for them only. Look at officers who are lieutenants, who relax until we do all their work, then they come in and take credit.”

Another officer said, “They [command staff, Lt’s, and up] get off with criminal acts, with any damn loophole they can,” says another officer. “Sexual harassment, and the like. The department can’t admit they were wrong in promoting them. It’s a shit system that makes it hard for all of us. Chavez, Surface, they are all part of that rat squad.”

Cases like Chavez’s tend to anger officers who follow the law. The same holds for those officers who were charged in a hit-and-run.

Officer Isaac Menchac

“Officer Isaac Menchac is guilty, and the court and department know it,” says an officer who messaged us today and provided documentation of the hit-and-run and the arrest. “He, Aaron Poblano, and Enrique David Mendoza should be behind bars and unemployed. He hit a car and ran.”

Now that Menchac has been found not guilty, he is moving to the Northeast Regional Command.

“The Department and DA gave these officers an early Christmas present,” says another officer. “They know they can get away with it now. This is not policing; this is corruption at its finest.”

We’ve yet to discuss Assistant Chief Zina Silva, who has worked from home for six months because she and Assistant Chief Julia Inciriaga almost fought in the headquarters parking lot. (We have a video that we will post soon)

Or even Lt Franko and her indiscretion with a male officer in her office.

We need your support to keep independent Jewish media alive. If you can contribute, please click here. Depending on your location, your support may be tax deductible.

Do you have a news tip or a story you would like to share? Click here to contact us.

Follow the Jerusalem Press on Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram | Threads | TikTok

While you are here, please take a moment to consider supporting independent Jewish Media. We do not hide our articles behind paywalls or subscription fees. Click here to support us on Patreon.