HAPCOA Responses to Negative Social Media Posts

A Written Statement:
Prepared by the
National Board of Directors of the
Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association

Respecting the Families of two McAllen Police Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

(Washington, DC) This past Saturday, July 11, 2020, two officers of the City of McAllen, TX, Police Department were killed in the line of duty while responding to a complaint of domestic violence.

The suspect, without warning, shot both brave officers as they approached the door of the home. As Police Chief Victor Rodriguez said during a press symposium, “ The officers never had a chance to suspect a deadly assault on them, much less death, at that moment in time”. The Police Officers were Ismael Chavez, 39 and Edelmiro Garza, Jr., 45. Garza had been with the department close to nine years while Chavez had been on the force for about two and a half years.

Subsequently, members of the families, posted on social media, their thoughts and feelings with grieving family, friends, fellow officers and the general public. By and large many of the responses were supportive and empathetic. Not expected were negative postings against the Police and hurtful comments directed to the families in mourning.

These two, Police Officers, were dedicated public servants and true guardians of a community that truly respected them for their service and bravery under duress.

The HAPCOA Board of Directors asks that all its members, supporting law enforcement associations, and supporting members of the Hispanic community, please send, in care of Chief Victor Rodriguez, McAllen Police Department, 1601 N. Bicentennial Blvd, McAllen, TX 78501, letters of support and condolence. We must show our support to the families of our fallen officers and also support the proud members of the McAllen Police Department.

McAllen, TX is located in southern Texas along the US-Mexico border.

About HAPCOA: The Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA) is a non-profit membership organization established in 1973. It is the oldest and largest association in the U.S. of Hispanic American command officers from law enforcement and criminal justice agencies at the municipal, school, county, state, university, and federal levels.

Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association
PO Box 29626
Washington, DC 20017
www.hapcoa.org