Police Chief Mooney resigns, vandalism reported
At the end of Monday’s city council meeting, Police Chief Frank Mooney advised the council that he has resigned effective the first of July. Chief Mooney has been in Friona almost 18 months. He recently married a lady from Paris, Texas and plans to retire to Paris. City manager Patricia Phipps will begin the search for a replacement. The council expressed thanks for his service.
In other council business, a fence variance was approved for 711 Cleveland and a carport variance was approved for 1101 W. 5th St. It was noted during the police department report that several instances of vandalism and theft have occurred in town.
The concession stand at the baseball park was broken into and all of the soft drinks, candy, etc. was stolen. Windows at the Redeemer Center on Virginia St. were broken with BBs and rocks. Thieves stole between $12,000 and $15,000 worth of tools and equipment from a trailer belonging to Terence Bunker that was parked behind the building at 717 Main St.
On his first day on the job, Officer Pedro Sanchez answered a domestic disturbance call and was assaulted by a male subject. The fight broke Officer Sanchez’s glasses before the subject was subdued and arrested. Chief Mooney told the council another theft was estimated at $8,400 where among other items three TVs were stolen.
Police Lt. Isidro Jimenez will attend a conference in Corpus Christi in early July. Officer Sanchez has attended a narcotics school in Lubbock, and two other officers will attend a Highway Interdiction School in Irving in July. It was reported that synthetic drugs are becoming more of a problem here in the city.
After a discussion the accounts payable and financial statements for May were approved. More details of the council meeting and what is happening in town can be found in Mayor Rick White’s ‘Mayor’s Minutes’ on page two.
The next meeting of the city council is Monday July 14 at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at 619 Main St. All council meetings are open to the
public.
