The Weslaco Police Department has had its share of issues and now they have an Interim Police Chief in place of the man who used to be in charge.
The city of Weslaco is still under the protective watch of their police officers, but the leadership at the department has taken a dramatic turn.
"I've appointed Robert de la Cerda. He's a veteran officer with Weslaco PD and he is now the Interim Police Chief."
City Manager Leo Olivares made the appointment after Weslaco's Police Chief Jose Perez turned in his resignation Wednesday.
Olivares says, "He and I had some private conversations. He did sight his own personal reasons for his resignation."
Perez only led the department since last July, before then, he'd retired and served as chief of Progreso Police.
We were unable to contact Perez about why he left his post, but the city manager says their priority is clear.
"Our priority is to ensure the public is safe and we do believe that Robert de la Cerda is going to take care of that for the city of Weslaco."
The lieutenant appointed as interim chief has been with the Weslaco Police Department for nearly 20 years according to city management.
As for a search for a new chief, the city doesn't anticipate looking too far.
"We try to promote from within. We will advertise internally for 3 days and after that if we feel it's appropriate we will look for outside candidates."
Action 4 News did stop by the police department to speak to the interim chief and check on whether he had any comment on the former chief's resignation and the future of the department, but he was not available for comment.
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