By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
An officer with the San Benito CISD Police Department facing charges of official oppression and injury to a child has been fired, school district officials confirmed Thursday.
According to Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio, now-former SBCISD police officer Joe Mendez was arrested Wednesday after he turned himself in to authorities. Mendez, who in February was accused of assaulting a teenage student who was restrained at the department’s station, was released from County custody after posting bail. Lucio confirmed that Mendez’ bonds were set at $35,000 (official oppression) and $5,000 (injury to a child).
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5 comments
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I refuse to believe that Officer Mendez did anything outside the scope of his duties to properly take down this young lady. Officer Mendez has worked for SBCISD for many years, and he is just not the type of person to take such harsh actions. I hope he fights this until the end. He doesn’t deserve this. God be with him.
Yes I agree with Too little Too late. My child knows her and knows she is trouble. And I am personally grateful that that officer put himself in danger to control that student. I am grateful to officer mendez for doing his job. We want our children to be safe, and then, we crucify the person who keeps them safe. If she got hurt when the policeman restrained her, so be it. Someone had to control her. Just talk to anyone at BCMS and you’ll get the whole picture of this out of control girl and the whole picture of Officer Mendez. The mother can’t even control her yet she is the first one to accuse the person who did control her. What is this world coming to when the school administration doesn’t stand up for its personnel when they MUST use excessive force to control someone. Poor Officer Mendez, did his job and got the axe.
TLTL – Well said.
This accusation is a load of crap. As someone who works in the school, the above poster hit the nail on the head. Mr Mendez is a great person and while working with him he has never shown aggression or abuse towards the children or staff. The fact that he was fired without just trial over false accusations is further proof of deeper corruption in the administration of SBCISD who is also bleeding the assets of the district dry. We cannot allow bad parents and their unruly children depreciate the value of our schools and remove great staff.
If you knew the student in question, you’d understand why officer mendez had to “take her down.” She is constantly sent back and forth from bcms to boot camp to Darrel Hester detention center over and over again. Enrolling, withdrawing, over and over. Officer mendez was called over from his post at bcms to help control her and he did. Once at bcms she and her mother fought each other down on the floor. A pregnant secretary was quickly removed from the office for fear that she would be hurt in the fight. She is the kind of girl who will physically fight anyone no matter what and excessive means are required.
I hope officer mendez will be allowed to bring in school personnel to testify about the girl’s mental stability or lack thereof. He doesn’t deserve what he is being put though just because he was doing his job. And why was he doing his job, BECAUSE SHE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. And this is how we repay those who keep the rest of the children safe from students like her. The public just doesn’t know what it takes to control one of these kids, but they sure are quick to criticize and condemn.