Posted on 10/28/2007 5:46:28 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Days after he retired as Laredo’s police chief, Agustin Dovalina III pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge of extortion, admitting to being the third conspirator in a case involving two former officers, illegal eight-liner gambling parlors and bribes.
An indictment said he accepted payments and a set of golf clubs totalling $13,500 in value, although his lawyer disputed the amount and said it was $10,000 in two payments.
The announcement was not a complete surprise to some in Laredo. The two high-ranking officers arrested last July had pleaded guilty to the same charge and were said to be cooperating with federal investigators.
Others were shocked that Dovalina, a man who had climbed through Laredo police ranks for 30 years, succumbed to the temptation of a few thousand dollars.
“It shakes that foundation of trust that we have in our public safety officers,” said City Council member Gene Belmares, adding that the next order of business for the council was to reform police procedures. “I think he has opened the floodgate of doubt on the entire department.” City officials assured the public the police department was stable.
“The current command structure within the Laredo Police Department has not been affected,” City Manager Carlos Villarreal said in a statement Friday.
Police spokesman Joe Baeza said the department would not comment.
Mayor Raul G. Salinas said the city would continue its search for a new police chief who would bring “a strong sense of ethics and integrity” to the department.
Dovalina pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and waived a grand jury hearing, said Nancy Herrera, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's
Office for the Southern District of Texas. He was released on $100,000 bond.
He admitted taking the bribes in exchange for keeping police away from the eight-liner business dealings of...
(Excerpt) Read more at mysanantonio.com ...
Over 30 years, BS!
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Full pension.
Suckers.
What kind of golf clubs?
That should be the minimum sentence for a dirty cop.
Gambling, being Laredo figured it was safe passage for drugs or illegals.
Don’t mess with Texas!
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