The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement revoked the Trinidad Police Department's license after finding the agency could not demonstrate public benefit and failed to meet minimum standards, including missing 18 required policies. The decision followed the May arrest of Jennifer Combs after a Facebook post about possible bacterial contamination in the town's water; her felony charge was later dropped and a grand jury declined to indict. Subsequent detentions, leadership changes and criticism of the department's practices prompted the state probe. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has also opened an investigation into the water supply, and the department will close this Friday.
Texas Town’s Police Department Shut Down After Social‑Media Water Complaint Sparks State Probe
Photo via Trinidad Police Department/Facebook
The Trinidad Police Department in Henderson County, Texas, has been ordered closed after state regulators concluded the small agency could not demonstrate it provided a public benefit and failed to meet minimum standards.
What Led To The Shutdown
The sequence began in May when resident Jennifer Combs posted on Facebook suggesting people had been hospitalized due to bacteria in the town's water. Trinidad officers arrested Combs, booking her overnight and charging her with a felony for filing a false report; the charge was later dropped. Police said the post caused "unnecessary fear and confusion," but an April city notice advising residents to boil water to "avoid harmful bacteria" undercut that defense.
The following day, officers briefly detained a citizen journalist who displayed a sign reading "f*** bad cops" outside city hall; the man was released and the disorderly conduct charge was dropped. That detention prompted the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCLE) to open an inquiry into the department's practices.
Investigation Findings
Following an August 5 investigation, TCLE officials informed Mayor Dennis Haws on Sept. 9 that the department's license to operate would be revoked. The agency found the department could not produce evidence that it provided a public benefit and that it failed to meet minimum standards — including lacking 18 required policies for various situations and not having adequate resources for officers.
Leadership, Legal Action, And Reactions
Chief Charles Gregory resigned in June after a grand jury declined to indict Combs. Combs has since sued the department for wrongful arrest, alleging the detention was politically motivated. County Judge Scott McKee said officers withheld crucial information when requesting an arrest warrant and questioned the "accuracy, completeness, and reliability of information" provided by the department.
Mayor Haws called the shutdown "not a shock," citing long‑standing neglect and saying the town is "moving in a positive direction." Combs posted a statement after the TCLE announcement, saying local residents who questioned the department had been "dismissed, attacked and in my case arrested," and that the state agency confirmed the department failed to meet even minimum standards.
Next Steps
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has opened a separate investigation into Trinidad's water supply. The Trinidad Police Department is scheduled to close its doors on Friday, and local officials will need to arrange for alternate law enforcement coverage and compliance steps if they seek to reestablish policing services in the future.
Key Dates: April — City water notice advised boiling water; May — Jennifer Combs arrested; June — Chief Gregory resigned; Aug. 5 — TCLE investigation; Sept. 9 — TCLE announced license revocation; Friday — Department to close.
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