News Flash

Civilian Police Academy offers hands-on experience of police work

PHOTO #1: Residents participate in a simulated traffic stop during the 2020 Civilian Police Academy hosted by the Victoria Police Department.

PHOTO #2: Residents participate in a simulated building search at an abandoned building during the 2018 Civilian P...

Victoria Police Department honors retirees with walkout ceremony

PHOTO #1: From left, Sgt. Julian Huerta and Lt. Michael Tatum are applauded by fellow officers as they take their final walkout during a retirement ceremony Dec. 16 in the 300 block of South Bridge Street.

PHOTO #2: Sgt. Julian Huerta greets his fellow off...

Victoria Police Department promotes 3 officers during ceremony

Victoria Police Department Sgt. Jon DeLaRosa recently was promoted from senior officer to sergeant and assigned to the Patrol Division. DeLaRosa has been serving the Victoria community for seven years, including five years on the department SWAT team, whe...

Victoria Police Department hires second deputy chief

PHOTO #1: Charles “Chuck” Young II, right, is sworn in as a Victoria Police Department deputy chief by City Secretary April Hilbrich, left, during a private ceremony Aug. 2 at 700 Main Center. Young is accompanied by his wife, Natali Young.

PHOTO #2: Victo...

Victoria Police Department swears in 5 new officers

From left, Ever Sanchez, Paul Higdon, Aaron Baylor, Henry Ybarra and Sampson Holt were sworn in June 29 as new Victoria Police Department officers during a ceremony attended by Victoria Police Department officers and family members at the Victoria Communi...

Victoria Police Department policies earn gold-standard recognition

PHOTO: The Victoria Police Department was recently recognized again under the Texas Police Chiefs Association Foundation’s Law Enforcement Agency Best Practices Recognition Program. Shown, from left, are Officer Jeffrey Lehnert, Police Chief Roberto Arred...

Victoria Police Officers Association paints curbs to aid emergency response

PHOTO #1: From left, Victoria Police Department Officer Nathaniel Arnold and Senior Police Officer Francisco Reyes, volunteers with the Victoria Police Officers Association, paint address numbers on a curb May 8 in the Tuscany neighborhood. The VPOA, an a...

Police volunteer group launches curb-painting service project

PHOTO: Members of the Victoria Police Officers Association pose April 2 with Easter baskets that they delivered to children in local hospitals and foster care. The VPOA is a volunteer group of Victoria Police Department officers who give back to the commu...

Victoria Police Department swears in 2 new officers

PHOTO #1: From left, Daniel Ruiz and J.T. Smith were sworn in March 11 as new Victoria Police Department officers during an outdoor ceremony at the City Hall courtyard, 105 W. Juan Linn St. The new officers now begin a 16-week field training program along...

Victoria Police Department to host COVID-safe ‘National Night In’

The Victoria Police Department is putting a new spin on its National Night Out this year with National Night In, replacing community meetups with safer methods of building camaraderie between neighbors and first responders.

“National Night Out is usually a...

City announces chief of police finalists

The City of Victoria’s search for a new chief of police has resulted this week in the selection of three finalists. 

“The chief of police holds one of the most important positions within the City,” City Manager Jesús A. Garza said. “Working closel...

Victoria Police Department earns trust by upholding core values

Recent high-profile incidents of police violence have led to a breakdown of trust in law enforcement. We have seen citizens rising up across the nation to demand accountability and have been stunned to see how some protests have turned violent.

The Black L...

Community says goodbye to Police Chief J.J. Craig

PHOTO #1: State Representative Geanie Morrison addresses attendees at a farewell gathering for outgoing Victoria Police Department Chief J.J. Craig on Monday at the Victoria Community Center. City employees and representatives of various community organiz...

City of Victoria Police receives $500,000 grant

The City of Victoria Police Department was awarded a $500,000 grant Tuesday from the Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Program, which provides funding to law enforcement agencies to hire new personnel.

“We’re excited that the Victoria Police Depa...