“My obligation is to the city and not the officers.”

5 March 2025, El Paso, Texas, Steven Zimmerman – Imagine you are a police officer and your boss, in this case, El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas, at a regular training session, “My obligation is to the city and not the officers.”

For some time, we have heard from many officers across the El Paso Police Department that EPPD has been in a tailspin since Pacillas was named Chief.

“We [detectives] are having to assist patrol on overnights,” says a Detective with the El Paso Police Department. “The Chief doesn’t care about us or even the people of the City of El Paso.”

This past week, we’ve had reports that Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division, after working their regular day shift, must come back in uniform and work patrol. Why?

“There’s not enough manpower to cover patrol,” says an Officer with the El Paso Police Department.

Because of burnout, people are leaving patrol in droves and joining other specialized units. They are also retiring or taking lateral transfers to other police departments for better opportunities.

On paper, the El Paso Police Department has 1,119 officers.

Here’s the reality: a Regional Command has the following:

• TAC – a specialized unit that may or may not count toward the total number of officers in the Lower Valley (We are using Mission Valley Regional Command as our example);
• PAR – the officers who do presentations in the community and mediation;
• CID – detectives;
• Traffic – they cover the roadways – traffic enforcement, and parade details; keep in mind traffic does not respond to 911 calls for service;
• Patrol – officers who respond to 911 calls.

The total number of sworn officers in Mission Valley, which we count as the Sergeants, Lieutenants, or commanders, is 103 and is divided among these units. Remember that patrol is the only unit responding to 911 calls, and CID is the detectives who work the case generated from your call.

“Think of this,” says an El Paso’s Westside patrol officer. Sometimes, parts of town, different Regional Commands, will only have a couple of cars out, taking 911 calls. This is why some Commanders have detectives working overtime as a patrol. This will cause cases to suffer.”

We’ve also heard from officers who are meeting with the Chief of Police to discuss issues within the Department in hopes of compelling the Chief to make some sort of positive change within the Department.

“The Chief told me,” says one Officer we spoke with this morning, “that everything I told him he hadn’t heard before I said it, which I know is a lie from him.”

Officers are relaying to the Chief that they are disgusted by the fact that the report rooms are “bugged” by microphones, so people like Lt. Alonzo Torres, badge #1864, are writing up officers for simply venting.

This venting and people being written up for undermining Torres’ authority and gossiping have caused at least seven officers to jump ship to evenings from graves. This is why Detectives have to cover graves.

Another issue the Chief says he’s never heard is that officers receive no real support from senior officers. For example, when officers call for a supervisor, such as Harvel (who is on light duty simply because he is retiring soon) or Thomas, they will not come to the scene. Far too many officers have told the Chief that these two are simply desk supervisors.

Officers have also expressed that the Department, under the Chief, is moving far too many officers out of patrol without considering the welfare of the Department or the people of El Paso.

Then, there is low morale and burnout. We’ve heard from so many officers that this is an ever-increasing problem within the Department. The lack of support, the constant having to watch their backs, and the fact that there is no real chance for advancement within the Department contributes to burnout and low morale.

Peter Pallas has heard this from so many officers and always has the same reply, “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” or “I’ve never heard that.” Sadly, far too many of El Paso’s finest have said this to the Chief. Saying you “didn’t know” just doesn’t hold water.

Pacillas said his leadership style revolves around fairness, accountability, and treating everyone like a human.

“That’s how I was raised – you treat everybody decently and you respect people. I want people to understand that’s where I come from,” said Pacillas to El Paso Media Matters.

1,119 Officers in the Department. It’s a significant number, but with what the Chief is saying, his leadership style, and his seeming reckless disregard for Officers and Citizens alike, it’s no wonder officers bang in for the day, quit, retire, or transfer out of El Paso. We deserve better.

No matter what happens in the minds of Command or the City, the citizens will suffer. From what the Chief is telling officers, we know it’s true.

You can email the El Paso Chief of Police at [email protected]