Willacy Co. Trash Patrol Position Still Vacant
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RAYMONDVILLE - The Willacy County Sheriff’s Office needs a law enforcement officer to help crack down on illegal dumpsters.
Willacy County Sheriff Larry Spence said they have the position open but no one seems to want the job.
Resident Manuel Vaelez has lived with his sister in the outskirts of Raymonville for 27 years. He said illegal dumping behind his home is common.
He said he’s become afraid for his sister safety.
“It bugs me out there because there’s a lot of tlacuaches (possums), rats, big rats coming down here,” he said.
Vaelez said he’s yet to catch someone in the act.
“They do all this through the night. That way we don’t see them. That’s the problem,” he said.
The resident wants the county to do more about the illegal dumping problem. He said cameras might help.
Sheriff Spence said there are no plans to install cameras. He said the county is relying on the new trash patrol position.
“They have again opened a slot for an officer. (It) has to be TCOLE-certified, a regular peace officer where he could carry a weapon. But they’ve opened a slot for that and it would take care of circumstance like that,” he said.
Spence said the certified Texas peace officer on trash duty would work mainly in Sebastian and Lasara, where much of the dumping takes place.
He added the department still continues to be short-staffed after the county budget suffered cutbacks two years ago.
In the meantime, Spence said his office will deal with complaints about illegal dumping by the priority of the call.
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