Changes

==Accomplishments as police chief==

==Accomplishments as police chief==

   

   

In 2006, Chief Dovalina received a favorable annual evaluation from the city manager, his direct supervisor. He procured high marks for exceeding standards in all areas. Then Deputy City Manager Cynthia Collazo (succeeded by City Manager Carlos Villarreal, who has since left that positioin) wrote that Dovalina "fosters ethical practices and accountability throughout the department and the organization." However, in 1998, then City Manager Florencio Peña ranked Dovalina below standard in regard to quality and quantity of work, dependability, communication skills, and interpersonal relations. Peña also chastised Dovalina for failure to have communicated regularly with city management. Dovalina issued a rebuttal in which he claimed that he had "submitted numerous reports to [Peña] via inter-office mail that somehow have gotten 'mysteriously misplaced' and have never arrived at their destination." The letter stressed too that Peña had opposed Dovalina's selection as chief: The appointment "was literally shoved down your throat by [the city] council. As a result, there exists a perceived aura of mistrust and suspicious overtones to the point that I feel that as my boss you would do anything to discredit my work in order to make me look bad in the eyes of council." When Peña was replaced by Larry Dovalina in 2001, a cousin of Agustin Dovalina, the chief's problems with the city manager's office abruptly ended.<ref>Ashley Richards, "The Rise and Fall of a Police Chief", ''Laredo Morning Times'', November 11, 2007, pp. 1, 14A.</ref> Larry Dovalina was dismissed by the city council in 2006, on a 5-4 roll call, with then Mayor Raul G. Salinas casting the tie-breaking vote. Former Mayor Betty Flores, who has emerged as a principal defender of Dovalina, her fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]],<ref>Dovalina voted in the 2006 Democratic primary, according to the Webb County Election Administrator's office</ref> said that Peña never mentioned to her any problems that he had encountered with Dovalina.

In 2006, Chief Dovalina received a favorable annual evaluation from the city manager, his direct supervisor. He procured high marks for exceeding standards in all areas. Then Deputy City Manager Cynthia Collazo (succeeded by City Manager Carlos Villarreal, who has since left that positioin) wrote that Dovalina "fosters ethical practices and accountability throughout the department and the organization." However, in 1998, then City Manager Florencio Peña ranked Dovalina below standard in regard to quality and quantity of work, dependability, communication skills, and interpersonal relations. Peña also chastised Dovalina for failure to have communicated regularly with city management. Dovalina issued a rebuttal in which he claimed that he had "submitted numerous reports to [Peña] via inter-office mail that somehow have gotten 'mysteriously misplaced' and have never arrived at their destination." The letter stressed too that Peña had opposed Dovalina's selection as chief: The appointment "was literally shoved down your throat by [the city] council. As a result, there exists a perceived aura of mistrust and suspicious overtones to the point that I feel that as my boss you would do anything to discredit my work in order to make me look bad in the eyes of council." When Peña was replaced by Larry Dovalina in 2001, a cousin of Agustin Dovalina, the chief's problems with the city manager's office abruptly ended.<ref>Ashley Richards, "The Rise and Fall of a Police Chief", ''Laredo Morning Times'', November 11, 2007, pp. 1, 14A.</ref> Larry Dovalina was dismissed by the city council in 2006, on a 5-4 roll call, with then Mayor Raul G. Salinas casting the tie-breaking vote. Former Mayor Betty Flores, who has emerged as a principal defender of Dovalina, her fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]],<ref>Dovalina voted in the 2006 Democratic primary, according to the Webb County Election Administrator's office.</ref> said that Peña never mentioned to her any problems that he had encountered with Dovalina.

   

   

Dovalina modernized the department. In 1999, officers received  [[radio]]s in their patrol cars. In 2006, Dovalina unveiled a digital 800-megahertz radio system that shields access to criminals and the public. Dovalina proved adept and procuring funding at the state and national levels for departmental operations, having obtained additional patrol cars to replace older vehicles which were frequently in the garage for repair. He purchased mobile data terminals and dash cameras for police vehicles. In 2005, he started Laredo's own bomb squad. Previously, the city shut down an area and waited for a squad from [[San Antonio]] to come to defuse the situation. Dovalina was chief when Laredo's Special Weapons And Tactics division received a major upgrade, with the purchase of a mobile command center. The department was fully computerized.<ref>Ashley Richards, "The Rise and Fall of a Police Chief", ''Laredo Morning Times'', November 11, 2007, pp. 1, 14A.</ref>  

Dovalina modernized the department. In 1999, officers received  [[radio]]s in their patrol cars. In 2006, Dovalina unveiled a digital 800-megahertz radio system that shields access to criminals and the public. Dovalina proved adept and procuring funding at the state and national levels for departmental operations, having obtained additional patrol cars to replace older vehicles which were frequently in the garage for repair. He purchased mobile data terminals and dash cameras for police vehicles. In 2005, he started Laredo's own bomb squad. Previously, the city shut down an area and waited for a squad from [[San Antonio]] to come to defuse the situation. Dovalina was chief when Laredo's Special Weapons And Tactics division received a major upgrade, with the purchase of a mobile command center. The department was fully computerized.<ref>Ashley Richards, "The Rise and Fall of a Police Chief", ''Laredo Morning Times'', November 11, 2007, pp. 1, 14A.</ref>  

   

   

===Downfall===

===Downfall===

Dovalina had critics within the police department. A suit was filed against him in November 2006 by thirteen officers who alleged that the police leadership retaliated against them when the officers sent a letter to Mayor Salinas and city council members expressing concern about "the familial ties between the City Manager and Chief of Police."<ref> http://www.lmtonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18989659&BRD=2290&PAG=461&dept_id=569392&rfi=6</ref>

Dovalina had critics within the police department. A suit was filed against him in November 2006 by thirteen officers who alleged that the police leadership retaliated against them when the officers sent a letter to Mayor Salinas and city council members expressing concern about "the familial ties between the City Manager and Chief of Police."<ref>[http://www.lmtonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18989659&BRD=2290&PAG=461&dept_id=569392&rfi=6]</ref>

   

   

Flores' tenure as mayor (1998-2006) coincided with eight of Dovalina's eleven years as chief. She told the ''Laredo Morning Times'' that Dovalina had "made some bad decisions that he has admitted to, but I would hope that this community understands that his heart was protecting them and working for them."<ref>Ashley Richards, "The Rise and Fall of a Police Chief", ''Laredo Morning Times'', November 11, 2007, pp. 1, 14A.</ref> Flores noted that Dovalina did not claim personal credit for innovations to the department. She added that "the only thing that he didn't accomplish was getting the [[helicopter]] that we so desperately need." According to Flores, Dovalina "is a good man. I hope that's what he will be remembered for."<ref>Ashley Richards, "The Rise and Fall of a Police Chief", ''Laredo Morning Times'', November 11, 2007, pp. 1, 14A.</ref>  

Flores' tenure as mayor (1998-2006) coincided with eight of Dovalina's eleven years as chief. She told the ''Laredo Morning Times'' that Dovalina had "made some bad decisions that he has admitted to, but I would hope that this community understands that his heart was protecting them and working for them."<ref>Ashley Richards, "The Rise and Fall of a Police Chief", ''Laredo Morning Times'', November 11, 2007, pp. 1, 14A.</ref> Flores noted that Dovalina did not claim personal credit for innovations to the department. She added that "the only thing that he didn't accomplish was getting the [[helicopter]] that we so desperately need." According to Flores, Dovalina "is a good man. I hope that's what he will be remembered for."<ref>Ashley Richards, "The Rise and Fall of a Police Chief", ''Laredo Morning Times'', November 11, 2007, pp. 1, 14A.</ref>