Magnolia Police Chief Domingo Ibarra stood firm in front of city council at its regular meeting Feb. 8, regarding the use of city-owned vehicles and police officers assisting other agencies outside of the city limits.

Council member John Bramlett said that “nothing is in writing regarding city vehicles.”

“In the past we never let any vehicles go home until (Ibarra) came,” he said.

Ibarra provided information that showed Magnolia Police officers live between 2 to 9 minutes outside of the city limits and it costs an additional $88.80 per month for the officers to drive their vehicles home.

He said this makes them available for emergencies to return to the city and avoid driving to the station.

“It is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” Ibarra said.

He expressed that it is necessary for the officers to have their vehicles because they usually only have one officer on duty per shift and if the officer needs backup it will be available.

“These police officers are taking the car home so that they understand they are subject to call,” he said.

Ibarra stated that he has not asked council for two more officers and is doing more with less having only eight officers.

“I’m ready to compromise with council because these officers have done this level of commitment. It cost us $88.80 or hire those two additional officers at $90,000 annually,” Ibarra said. “I’m not here asking for two additional officers, I’m here asking these officers for yet another year of commitment.”

Bramlett stated that the issue was not only police vehicles, but all city-owned vehicles. One city officer drives to Willis, according to Bramlett. He requested that City Administrator Paul Mendes and Ibarra work together to produce guidelines for the city employee manual.

“The operational aspects of the police department are very important. If I thought it was taking funds away from the citizens of Magnolia, I would have stopped it a long time ago,” Mendes said. “I also support sending the public works vehicle home, because we have no night crew and if something goes wrong, then they come back (to the city).”

In regard to assisting other agencies Ibarra explained that his concern is public and officer safety.

“I don’t want to be the chief of police for a city that allows a police officer not to have backup,” Ibarra said. “This is not about balancing the budget; this is about balancing the budget at the expense of public safety.”

Mayor Todd Kana stated that officers should only answer calls outside of the city limits when Magnolia Police Department (MPD) is directly dispatched. Ibarra also explained that in the Texas Penal Code officers are required to turn the scene over to local jurisdiction once they arrive and the situation is stable.

Ibarra said that these calls are life and death issues.

“This is not about being bored, it’s about the sheriff’s department needing backup,” he said.

The annual report shows that the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MSCO) assisted MPD on 608 calls in 2010 and MPD assisted 445 calls from MSCO in 2010.

Ibarra explained that if MPD is outside the city limits helping MSCO or in route to the Montgomery County Jail taking a prisoner, then MSCO assists in taking calls inside the city limits.

“This is not about egos, this is about officer safety, so they can be there for public safety,” Ibarra said. “I want to go to sleep every night knowing that these officers are safe.”

City Attorney Leonard Schneider said everyone has a valid concern. He stated that MPD could adopt inter-local agreements with other agencies to balance both sides of concern. MPD is still operating on a 2003 inter-local agreement that was established when MPD was located outside the city limits.

For more information about MPD policies, call 281-356-2500 or visit cityofmagnolia.com.

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