Publisher’s note: There have been arrests made since the completion of this story. However, we feel like it provides context and information on the recent vandalism spree along with other challenges city has had with vandalism.
By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rio Police Department Chief Frank Ramirez promised city council members on
Saturday two vandals who have damaged a series of restrooms in city parks would be
arrested quickly.
Ramirez told city council members on Saturday morning he expected arrests “by the end
of the day.” The chief made his comments during a special city council budget workshop
during which questions about the vandalisms arose.
As council members heard a presentation on the proposed revenues and expenditure
totals for the city’s parks department, Councilwoman Carmen
Gutierrez asked, “Due to
the recent vandalism at our parks, in the restrooms, is there an insurance? Are we insured
at all on the parks?”
Interim Finance Director Linda Coones replied, “Yes, we are.”
“We hopefully will get something back for all that vandalism,” Gutierrez said.
She also expressed hope the police department would soon catch the vandals and asked
about planned repairs.
“I know that the (National) Park Service has those metal restrooms, and I know TxDOT
(Texas Department of Transportation) has them at some of their rest areas. Is it more
expensive, a lot more expensive, to invest in those instead of the ceramic ones that are so
easily broken?” Gutierrez asked.
Scot Carcasi, the city’s operations and compliance manager, answered.
Carcasi said, “The short answer is, yes, they’re more expensive up front but in the long
room they would be less expensive. So we’ve been trying to phase those in. Just as an
example, a porcelain toilet, we’re looking at $200. A stainless steel toilet is a little less
than $1,000, so we’re currently working up a plan to bring back to council of phasing in
all stainless steel fixtures.”
“The cost is higher up front, but we have less down time,” Carcasi added.
Carcasi said in Del Rio Rotary Park, vandals attempted to damage the fixtures, but since
the Rotary Club had donated stainless steel fixtures, the vandals’ efforts were thwarted.
“So the vandals broke the PVC pipes instead,” Carcasi said.
“We’re doing a deep dive on how can we reduce the frequency of vandalism and the
severity of the vandalism,” he added.
Gutierrez also asked, “Are there any cameras or other security out there? The parks close
at 10 o’clock, right?”
Carcasi said, “There’s currently no cameras. We are also working up a plan for that. Obviously we can’t put them inside the restrooms, but we are working up a security plan
to be able to see the restrooms, but we’ll be able to provide our PD with evidence.”
“Hopefully our citizens will be aware that there is a park curfew, and if they see
suspicious behavior or people out there in the parks after those hours, after curfew hours,
they should call the police department and report it,” Gutierrez said.
Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. asked if the vandalized restrooms had been unlocked or if
vandals broke into the facilities.
Carcasi replied, “Most of the vandalism occurred while the park was open, so the doors
were open.”
Lopez asked if parks staff is sent every night to lock the doors, and Carcasi said they are.
“Every night at 10 o’clock-ish, they go through and close all the facilities,” Carcasi said.
“And if these were vandalized, why were they not closed?” Lopez asked.
“It occurred during the day,” Carcsai replied.
“During the day?” Lopez said.
“Yes,” Carcasi said.
He added, “The Moore Park restroom damage occurred during a break between a day
swim and an evening swim. It was still open, and they (the vandals) broke in while the
employees were taking a dinner break. The amphitheater restrooms were damaged shortly
after opening. San Felipe Lions Park restrooms, middle of the day. The Rotary Park
happened shortly after opening at 8 in the morning, and they went back to Hogan Park.
They went there a couple weeks ago, and we had just finished repairs (to the restrooms)
the day before, and they went back and broke them again, and that was 6 o’clock in the
evening.”
City Manager Shawna Burkhart said vandals also broke into the restrooms at UCO Park
in the city’s Chihuahua neighborhood and damaged them.
“It’s occurring while the restrooms are open,” Carcasi reiterated.
Lopez then asked about the times restrooms are open.
Carcasi said the restrooms at the city’s ballparks are open during events.
He said the city attempted to leave some newer bathrooms open all day, “but they were
heavily vandalized.”
He said vandals heaped dirt into the commodes, and in another park, vandals stuffed
toilet papers rolls into the commodes shortly after the restrooms were opened.
“These restrooms are open for the public to use during their time at our parks, but we’re
trying to balance being open (with) the vandalism we’re been having of late,” Carcasi
said.
Lopez opined that vandalism would happen if restrooms are left open all day and would
be less frequent if the restrooms were only opened during events.
“We’re just trying to keep them where if people go to the parks they have a facility if
they need it,” Carcasi said.
Mayor Al Arreola asked if staff was coming up with a plan of action for after the
restrooms are repaired.
“We’re going to change our operations and our security processes,” Carcasi replied.
“Hopefully once they get busted, we’ll go back to tranquility in our parks,” Arreola said.
Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez asked, “Do we have a bicycle patrol out there? They used to have officers on bicycles out there patrolling the parks.”
Del Rio Police Department Chief Frank Ramirez went to the podium and told the
council, “So, on this, the one we’re dealing with right now, we just put some more social
media out there on it, it looks like there’s two individuals that have done most of the
damage in the last couple of weeks. We’ve got a lot of information. We got it last night.
We’re working on it. I don’t want to make any promises, but I wouldn’t be surprised if
this isn’t sewed up by the end of the day.”
Ramirez said the department is receiving information from the community, which he said
is helping a great deal.
“We don’t know who these people are, but we’ve got information since then, we know
first names, we know locations, we know where they hang out, what they’re doing, so it’s
just a matter of time, so much so that they’re already canceled all their stuff (social media
accounts), and they’re taking everything off. They were posting videos of destroying the
bathrooms, so they know we’re on to them. They’re chatting, and they saying they know
we know. Hopefully they’ll turn themselves in. If not, we’ll go get ’em,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez said although restrooms in the parks are occasionally vandalized, this recent
spate is being carried out by two persons.
The chief also told the council he has increased patrols in the areas where the vandalisms
occurred.
“God willing, this will be wrapped up today, would be my prediction,” Ramirez said.
Lopez then said, “The question was, chief, do you have any bike patrols in the parks?”
“We do not,” Ramirez replied, adding, “We don’t have the manpower for bike patrols. . .
We’re lucky to have enough for patrol.”
Carcasi said he believes the police department is doing what it can.
“Every time we’re had a problem at a park, and we’ve notified PD, they’ve been right on
it. Catching these guys is a direct result of our community coming forward, reporting it
and giving us some tips. It’s disappointing when we see our stuff get destroyed, but we
do have those community members who are coming forward to help us catch these guys,”
he said.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com .
