Rio Grande City suspends police chief

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Rio Grande City suspended police Chief Noe Castillo on Wednesday.

The city didn’t explain the decision, said attorney Jay Peña of Rio Grande City, who represents Castillo.

“I’m picking up his case,” Peña said. “I’m looking into a political retaliation claim on his behalf.”

The city sent Castillo a notice that provided “no details whatsoever of what the allegation is,” Peña said. “Yet he’s asked to go ahead and appeal. So we don’t know what, exactly, it is we’re appealing.”

CBS 4 News could not reach Mayor Gilberto Falcon, who celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, or City Manager Gilberto Millan Jr. for comment.

“I think it’s important to note that he’s got a very clean service record. He’s a very well-respected person within the law enforcement community,” Peña said. “He’s certainly also very well respected within the community.”

Rio Grande City police Chief Noe Castillo. (Photo courtesy of Rio Grande City.)

Castillo was one of the original nine officers hired by Rio Grande City in 1995, when the Board of Aldermen created a police department, according to a biography published by the city.

In 2000, he left Rio Grande City for a job with the 229th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, according to Texas Commission on Law Enforcement records. Castillo helped crime victims apply for assistance, conducted investigations and worked closely with prosecutors as they prepared cases for trial.

After two years with the regional district attorney, Castillo accepted a job with a local school district.

Castillo returned to Rio Grande City in 2005, when he became the assistant police chief.

Rio Grande City promoted Castillo to chief in 2015, according to Commission on Law Enforcement records.

Castillo also serves on the board of the Rio Grande City Grulla Independent School District.