Karen Gleason
The interim chief of the Del Rio Police Department does not hold an active license as a Texas peace officer, but city officials today said he doesn’t need one to do the job for which he was hired.
On Saturday, the 830 Times sent a request for information to Interim City Manager John Sheedy, asking about Interim DRPD Chief Daniel Busken’s state certification.
Sheedy, following conversations with Busken, with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and with the city’s attorneys, sent the following reply on Tuesday:
“After consultation with TCOLE and legal counsel, the city provides the following response to your questions. Chief Busken was appointed as the interim chief of police on May 11, 2021 in compliance with Texas Local Government Code Section 143.013 as a department head for the Del Rio Police Department. The civil service statute does not require an active peace officer license. Chief Busken’s TCOLE certification was not suspended, but was deemed inactive as of November 2019, and he is eligible for reinstatement. He is eligible, able and qualified to serve as the department head for the City of Del Rio Police Department.”
A majority of Del Rio City Council members contacted by the 830 Times on Wednesday said they were not made aware of the certification issue, neither by former City Manager Matt Wojnowski nor by Strategic Government Resources (SGR), the company that proffered Busken as a candidate for the position.
Councilwoman Alexandra Falcon Calderon said she was not aware at the time the council voted to confirm Busken’s appointment that he did not have an active state peace officer license.
Calderon also said she would have voted differently had she known.
“In my job as a cosmetologist, I have to have a license to operate as one, and I also have to have a license to operate my salon. I know we were hiring him as the interim chief, but we have to set the example. My feeling is that you have to have all the qualifications if you want to do the job,” Calderon told the 830 Times in a telephone interview Wednesday.
Councilman Jim DeReus said he does not remember having a discussion about Busken’s certification, adding, “He’s very qualified based on his resume. If we had had that discussion during the hiring process, I don’t know how much of a difference it would have made to me.”
Asked if he would still have voted to confirm Busken, DeReus said, “Probably, but I would have asked about the other applicants, and I would have asked, if he doesn’t have a current peace officer certification, what makes him stand out from those applicants? I probably would have asked a few more questions.”
Councilman Raul C. Ojeda said he, too, was not aware that Busken’s certification was inactive.
“If I had known, it would have raised more questions for me, I think. I think I probably would have voted differently. If we didn’t have any other options, I probably would have gone ahead (and voted for him), but I would certainly have had more reservations,” Ojeda said.
Councilman Steven Webb has a unique perspective on the issue because he is the only current council member who once served as a member of the Del Rio Police Department.
Webb said Wednesday he was not aware that Busken’s license was inactive at the time Busken was hired and said he would not have voted to hire Busken if he had known.
“My understanding is that (Busken) allowed his license to lapse. No, at time he was hired, I did not know it had lapsed. I spoke to him prior to recommending him to the rest of the council, and I asked Mr. Busken if he had a master peace officer license, and he did, but I did not ask him if his license was current,” Webb said.
Webb added that all Busken has to do to reactivate his license is to pay a fee and pass a certain number of required courses. He noted Busken does not carry a badge or gun or wear a DRPD uniform.
Webb also said he would have voted against Busken’s appointment, had he known about the inactive license, adding he “certainly” would have asked more questions.
With the council on the verge of hiring a new permanent police chief, Webb said those questions will definitely be asked.
“We will not make the same mistake twice,” he said.
Mayor Pro-Tem Alfredo “Fred” Carranza Jr. said Wednesday he, too, was not made aware that Busken’s license was not current.
“Now, I know that he’s able to serve, but that he can’t arrest anybody or do things like that. If I had known at the time of his hiring, I don’t know if it would have changed my vote, but I think I would have asked a whole bunch more questions. I definitely would have wanted to know,” Carranza said.
Councilman J.P. Sanchez also said he did not know Busken’s license was inactive at the time the council voted to confirm Busken’s appointment.
“No, that was not brought to our attention at all,” Sanchez told the 830 Times in a telephone interview Wednesday.
Sanchez, too, said knowing about the inactive license would have changed his vote.
“Yes, of course it would have changed my vote if I had known. I would much, much rather have had someone who has all the certifications,” Sanchez said.
Mayor Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano said Thursday he was unaware of Busken’s certification status at the time he made the motion to confirm the appointment of the interim chief.
Asked if knowing Busken’s status would have changed his vote, Lozano said, “Most likely not, since he wasn’t applying for the permanent chief position. We also now know that he is eligible for certification.”
