LYFORD — Police Chief Andres Maldonado is wearing a bigger badge.
Earlier this week, city commissioners appointed the former state trooper to serve as public safety director.
But the job will not mean a salary increase.
“It’s going to be an adventure,” Maldonado, who draws an annual salary of $36,720, said yesterday. “We’re going to try to make it work.”
As part of the new job, Maldonado will oversee the city’s volunteer fire department.
“It’s more duties,” he said. “I’m happy to do it. It’s good for the community and good for the fire department.”
Maldonado said he plans to “expand” training for the fire department, made up of eight firefighters.
Yesterday, Mayor Wally Solis could not be reached for comment.
Last month, Solis said the job’s duties included patrol work in the city whose police department is made up of the chief and two full-time officers.
However, a revised job description dropped the patrol requirement.
In January 2015, Maldonado took the police chief’s job after a career in which he served as a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper.
Maldonado began his career with the Raymondville Police Department.
