MISSION — Sirens in the distance signaled the arrival of a small convoy to the Mission Events Center on Wednesday.
The convoy turned down Grapefruit Boulevard, moving slowly toward the building’s entrance where several Mission police officers stood at attention — awaiting the arrival of Mission Police Chief Robert Dominguez.
As the convoy rolled up, the officers were called to parade rest, and the crowd of Rodriguez’s friends, family and fellow brothers in blue gathered around the convoy.
Dominguez exited the fourth vehicle of the convoy with his family and greeted supporters. He entered one of the police units and grabbed the radio to deliver an emotional final call.
“Mission, I will be going 10-42 after 35 years of service to this community,” Dominguez said, his voice echoing through the radios of his fellow officers. “It’s been my absolute honor and privilege to have served this department. It has been a journey, especially with all of you at my side. Please be safe and take care of each other. May God bless each and every one of you. Godspeed, Mission PD.”
He exhaled deeply as he exited the police unit. “I’m going to miss this, guys,” he said, before entering the events center for his retirement luncheon.
Wednesday, April 6, marked the 35th anniversary for Dominguez — not only as a police officer, but as an officer with the city of Mission where he spent his entire career. His last day of duty will be April 30.
“It was a wonderful journey,” Dominguez said Thursday, reflecting on his long career. “I’m very appreciative to the community of Mission. I grew as an individual here and as a public servant. It’s hard to leave, but like anything in life, we all get to that point that we understand that our careers … we’ve done what we wanted to as far as the satisfaction for what we do for our community. At the same time, it’s about taking care of ourselves and our families.
“It’s been a wonderful experience for me.”
Dominguez was born and raised in Elsa, where he continues to reside to this day.
“I’m a Yellow Jacket,” he said with a laugh. But it is Mission that has served as his second home throughout his 35-year career.
“A part of my heart will stay here with the community,” he added.
He graduated from Edcouch-Elsa High School in 1981 and earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in police administration from Pan American University in 1986, now known as the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He then entered the police academy, the 55th Basic Police Officer Academy sponsored by the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council.
Dominguez graduated from the academy March 20, 1987, and started his career with the Mission Police Department on April 6, 1987— a career that would see him climb the ranks and eventually serve as chief of police.
“I respect his 35 years as a police officer,” Pharr Police Chief Andy Harvey said. “I think that’s going to be a thing of the past. We’re not going to see that very often anymore. He’s one of the last ones that we will probably see stick around for that long.”
Harvey said he has looked up to Dominguez as a fellow chief of police for direction and advice.
“He’s always been very supportive since I arrived,” Harvey said of Dominguez.
McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez described Dominguez’s retirement as an accomplished ending to his career in Mission.
“We’ve been able to basically forge very good working relationships,” Rodriguez said. “I think that in the end translates to good service to our communities.”
Hidalgo County Sheriff J. E. “Eddie” Guerra recalled his conversations and shared advice with Dominguez as the leaders of their respective agencies.
“We’d bounce a lot of information and a lot of problems off each other,” Guerra said. “As he said during his retirement speech, it’s very lonely at the top. It’s always good to have somebody you can converse with when you come up with a situation you need help with.”
When asked what he hopes to leave behind for his fellow Mission police officers, Dominguez said a humble service to the community.
“Just that feeling that we’re your friends, and we’re here to serve,” Dominguez said. “It’s really been an honor to serve the citizens here in Mission.”
Cesar Torres, the former police chief in Edinburg, has been hired to take the helm of the Mission police force as its chief following Dominguez’s retirement.
To see more, view Monitor photojournalist Joel Martinez’s full photo gallery here:
Photo Gallery: Law enforcement community bids emotional farewell to Chief Dominguez
