Alex Villalobos, chief of staff for County Judge Ruben Becerra, now carries an additional title with the county: reserve deputy constable for Precinct 3.
At its meeting last week, the Hays County Commissioners Court confirmed Villalobos’ appointment to a position in Precinct 3 Constable Ray Helm’s office. Villalobos will be assigned to the county judge’s office.
Villalobos served for more than 10 years with the Texas State Police Department and has his master peace officer license, the county agenda states.
His appointment was not without opposition, however. Johnny Johnston told the commissioners that he worked with Villalobos for about 10 years and, “I feel that it is morally and ethically my duty and my responsibility to ask the court to reconsider the approval and confirmation of Alex Villalobos as a reserve deputy constable of Hays County.”
Johnston said Villalobos had been investigated for numerous issues, including an alleged altering of public documents at the University Police Department, and that since his resignation from UPD Villalobos’ personnel file had gone missing. He also said Villalobos was added to the Brady List, which Johnston described as “a list of dishonest officers.”
However, Helm spoke on Villalobos’ behalf.
“I spent three and a half months on this guy,” he said of the background check on Villalobos. “... I spent many a day up at University PD talking to people up there. Ninety percent gave him a very favorable background. … Alex is a good guy.”
Becerra said that when he was looking into Villalobos’ background, all three police chiefs he had worked for gave him letters of recommendation.
As for Villalobos’ inclusion on the Brady List, Helm said that 50 to 60 percent of the people on that list are there for policy issues.
Helm noted that although Villalobos does not live within Precinct 3, neither do most of his staff.
“It’s too expensive to live there,” Helm said.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Lon Shell noted that naming someone as a reserve deputy constable is a courtesy often provided to law enforcement officers who are retired or not currently employed by law enforcement agencies.
As for Villalobos’ assignment to the county judge’s office, Helm said, “We have judges, elected officials, all over the country, get assaulted, shot,” and that security is a way to keep up with the county’s growth.
Villalobos’ appointment passed unanimously.
