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==Background==

==Background==

 

Dovalina is descended from a pioneer family which established Laredo in 1755. He is a cousin of former Laredo City Manager Lazaro "Larry" Dovalina (born 1947) and former Laredo College president [[Ramón H. Dovalina]], Sr. He was the son of the former Juanita Castaneda (1933-2022), a retired hospital employee,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obituaries.lmtonline.com/obituary/juanita-c-dovalina-1085662499|title=Juanita C. Dovalina obituary|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|date=July 12, 2022}}</ref> and Agustin Dovalina, Jr. (1933-2015), a printer for the former ''South Texas Citizen'' and ''The Laredo Citizen'' community newspapers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmtonline.com/obituaries/article/Mr-Agustin-Dovalina-Jr-9988920.php|title=Agustin Dovalina, Jr. obituary|publisher=''Laredo Morning Times''|date=October 15, 2015|accessdate=May 13, 2017}}</ref> Dovalina graduated in 1973 from Martin High School in Laredo, at which he was a talented band member. He then attended the [[University of Texas at Austin]] from 1973 to 1976, having studied music education. Dovalina was the baritone section leader for the UT marching band and was a member of the university's jazz and wind ensembles as well as the Austin Symphony. He was a member of two [[Roman Catholic Church]] choirs.<ref name=riseandfall>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflaredo/policenew/index/chiefdovalina/chiefsbio.htm|author=Ashley Richards|title="The Rise and Fall of a Police Chief"|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|date=November 11, 2007|pages=1, 14A}}</ref>  

Dovalina is descended from a pioneer family which established Laredo in 1755. He is a cousin of former Laredo City Manager Lazaro "Larry" Dovalina (born 1947) and former Laredo College president [[Ramón H. Dovalina]], Sr. He was the son of the former Juanita Castaneda (1933–2022), a retired hospital employee,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obituaries.lmtonline.com/obituary/juanita-c-dovalina-1085662499|title=Juanita C. Dovalina obituary|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|date=July 12, 2022}}</ref> and Agustin Dovalina Jr. (1933–2015), a printer for the former ''South Texas Citizen'' and ''The Laredo Citizen'' community newspapers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmtonline.com/obituaries/article/Mr-Agustin-Dovalina-Jr-9988920.php|title=Agustin Dovalina, Jr. obituary|publisher=''Laredo Morning Times''|date=October 15, 2015|accessdate=May 13, 2017}}</ref> Dovalina graduated in 1973 from Martin High School in Laredo, at which he was a talented band member. He then attended the [[University of Texas at Austin]] from 1973 to 1976, having studied music education. Dovalina was the baritone section leader for the UT marching band and was a member of the university's jazz and wind ensembles as well as the Austin Symphony. He was a member of two [[Roman Catholic Church]] choirs.<ref name=riseandfall>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflaredo/policenew/index/chiefdovalina/chiefsbio.htm|author=Ashley Richards|title="The Rise and Fall of a Police Chief"|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|date=November 11, 2007|pages=1, 14A}}</ref>  

   

   

===Early career===

===Early career===

Dovalina left UT to become a municipal bridge toll collector on the [[Rio Grande]] border. On August 7, 1978, he became a city patrolman. According to records in his personnel file released through the ''Laredo Morning Times,'' Dovalina scored the highest among his peers on a lieutenant eligibility test in 1989 and was hence promoted to that rank. While at the police department, he attended the former Laredo Junior College, the predecessor institution to Laredo Community College, from 1990 to 1992, at which he earned an associate degree in law enforcement. He continued his police education in 1994 at the [[University of Virginia]] in Charlottesville and subsequently graduated from the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] National Academy. He earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in criminal justice from Texas A&M International University in Laredo. He also taught occasionally on an adjunct basis at Laredo Community College.<ref name=riseandfall/>

Dovalina left UT to become a municipal bridge toll collector on the [[Rio Grande]] border. On August 7, 1978, he became a city patrolman. According to records in his personnel file released through the ''Laredo Morning Times,'' Dovalina scored the highest among his peers on a lieutenant eligibility test in 1989 and was hence promoted to that rank. While at the police department, he attended the former Laredo Junior College, the predecessor institution to Laredo Community College, from 1990 to 1992, at which he earned an associate degree in law enforcement. He continued his police education in 1994 at the [[University of Virginia]] in Charlottesville and subsequently graduated from the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] National Academy. He earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in criminal justice from Texas A&M International University in Laredo. He also taught occasionally on an adjunct basis at Laredo Community College.<ref name=riseandfall/>

===Family===  

===Family===

Dovalina is a master Mason. His wife, the former Mucia Castillo (born June 11, 1959), has been the public relations representative for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The two met while both worked at the Laredo Police Department. According to a copy of a ''Laredo Morning Times'' article in Dovalina's personnel file, Mucia said that Dovalina proposed to her three months after they met. The couple has five children: Monica (born 1977), Sunshine (born 1981), Kristyn (born 1984), Chelsea (born 1989), and Agustin, IV (born 1994).<ref name=riseandfall/>

Dovalina is a master Mason. His wife, the former Mucia Castillo (born June 11, 1959), has been the public relations representative for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The two met while both worked at the Laredo Police Department. According to a copy of a ''Laredo Morning Times'' article in Dovalina's personnel file, Mucia said that Dovalina proposed to her three months after they met. The couple has five children: Monica (born 1977), Sunshine (born 1981), Kristyn (born 1984), Chelsea (born 1989), and Agustin, IV (born 1994).<ref name=riseandfall/>

==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 position) 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 name=riseandfall/> 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 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 position) 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 name=riseandfall/> 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 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 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 name=riseandfall/>  

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 name=riseandfall/>  

   

   

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 name=riseandfall/> 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 name=riseandfall/>  

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 name=riseandfall/> 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 name=riseandfall/>  

When Dovalina pleaded guilty to extortion, he emerged from court on what he termed "one of the darkest, saddest days" of his life. He apologized to his family, the police department, and community. Dovalina declined to be interviewed but asked that the media respect his family privacy.<ref name=riseandfall/> Numerous letters to the editor of the ''Laredo Morning Times'' at the time of his retirement and guilty plea were hostile to Dovalina.

When Dovalina pleaded guilty to extortion, he emerged from court on what he termed "one of the darkest, saddest days" of his life. He apologized to his family, the police department, and community. Dovalina declined to be interviewed but asked that the media respect his family privacy.<ref name=riseandfall/> Numerous letters to the editor of the ''Laredo Morning Times'' at the time of his retirement and guilty plea were hostile to Dovalina.