SAN JUAN — Ruben Morin’s tenure as the city’s police chief ended Monday during a contentious special-called meeting of the San Juan city commission, but not before multiple accusations were hurled in each direction.
The meeting came nearly two months after Morin was placed on administrative leave while the city investigated whether he targeted officers after he received unfavorable results from a Texas Municipal Police Association survey.
Following a call to order and the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance, the commission entered into executive session to discuss Morin’s position with the police department. But Morin, who was sitting at a table on the side of the meeting room inside the San Juan Memorial Library, spoke up and requested that the discussion be held publicly.
During the discussion, Mayor Mario Garza said that he and Commissioner Marco “Markie” Villegas had finally had an opportunity to review the survey in question, but did not discuss its details.
“It is my recommendation that after the survey, the lack of staffing, amongst other items that have taken place, I’ll make a recommendation that we move in a new direction,” City Manager Benjamin Arjona proposed.
The city commission then unanimously approved going forward with Arjona’s recommendation. Morin approached a podium in front of the commission and asked to read a statement in front of a room full of supporters and a few opponents.
“I want to take this time to thank everyone who has supported me and is present at this meeting. I am humbled, and I greatly appreciate the support that you have shown me,” Morin said, reading from a prepared statement. “I want to start now (by saying) how disappointed I am with the way I’m being targeted and how City Manager Ben Arjona continues to attempt to tarnish my reputation.”
Morin went on to make allegations against certain city commissioners and the city manager, claiming that they harassed and retaliated against him due to his refusal to go along with certain requests that he deemed unethical and illegal, though he did not divulge any specific details.
“With that being said, it proves my point that you have not given me anything in writing,” Morin said. “I’ve asked you time and time again to provide me with the actual violations as to what I violated.”
Morin went on to say that he had yet to see any “examples” from the survey in question and had not been invited to take part in it.
“For you to validate that survey is irrational, in a sense,” he said. “It’s unacceptable. Now you’ve made your decision. That’s right. But I want it on the record that I’ve never once been given specific examples about that survey. For you to put a lot of weight on that survey is unacceptable from you as leaders and you as the city manager.”
Morin’s supporters erupted with applause at the conclusion of his statement. The mayor then took a moment to respond to Morin’s statement.
Garza disputed Morin’s claims that he was not invited to participate in the TMPA survey, saying that the city has records that show Morin chose not to participate in the survey.
Morin asked to see the records, to which Garza said, “Well, I’m letting you know that there’s a record.”
“You can’t say that there’s a record and not produce it,” Morin responded. “Please show me that record because I never received an invitation from TMPA to participate in that survey.”
Garza went on to express he also took issue with the lack of patrol officers available at any given time, saying the city needed “more manpower.”
“That’s a false statement,” Morin said. “When you say that, where are you getting your information because I’ve verified, and that is not a correct statement.”
“Well, we’ve just got to be careful, Chief,” Garza responded. The mayor’s response was met with audible indignation from those seated in the crowd.
“Show us!” some crowd members called out.
But as the crowd grew more agitated, the commission voted to end the meeting and walked out of the meeting room.
Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Morin said he was disappointed with the outcome.
“You don’t expect this type of decision, especially when you’re working so hard for the city and the police department,” Morin said. “I’ve brought issues about how we can retain and recruit individuals, and that has gone on deaf ears. So now I’m the one being blamed for that. I’ve been pushing for pay raises for the staff to help me recruit the citizens to become police officers. Hopefully, eventually, soon San Juan will get there.
“That’s my prayer because I am still a citizen of San Juan, and I want nothing but the best for the police department,” he continued. “ … I’m happy and I’m good, but it’s a decision, and we have to move forward.”
Garza said Morin was still employed with the city, pending a letter that will be drafted by the city manager and the city attorney. The letter will formally terminate his employment with the city ten days after he receives it.
“It’s nothing personal against Chief Morin,” Garza said after the meeting. “The gentleman always respected me and I respected him. As far as his work ethic and his leadership skills, it wasn’t to where we felt — the commission — needed to be. … We just needed to go in another direction.”
The city manager said he could not comment on what he saw in the TMPA survey that warranted his recommendation, but, like Garza, said that morale within the department was low.
“The morale was very low,” Arjona said. “Lack of staffing — there was not enough visibility of officers. That’s pretty much all I can say. Other than that, everything else is pretty much personnel matters.”
Morin’s law enforcement career began in San Juan, where he served four years before working for the Texas Department of Public Safety. He had retired from DPS in February 2020 and had just been hired at the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office as an investigator with its new Civil Rights Squad before accepting the position as San Juan’s police chief.
Sgt. Leandro Sifuentes will serve as interim chief of police as the city makes preparations to seek candidates to fill Morin’s former position.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect Morin is still currently employed by the city.
