AS PREDICTED: JOB DESCRIPTION TO BE CHANGED FOR ZAMORA

By Juan Montoya
This Thursday at 8:30 a.m., as predicted, the Cameron County Commissioners Court will consider an action item by court legal counsel Dylbia Jeffries Vega to approve the amending of the job description for the position of Chief Park Ranger and its re-posting to fill it.
As you know, the position was advertised after commissioners voted to reopen the Park Ranger Department complaining of increased litter and lack of security on the county beaches. However, many critics said that the move was initiated to give defeated Pct. 1 Constable Horacio Zamora a place to go after he lost is a runoff to Pete Delgadillo, his Republican opponent.
Well, it get thicker, as they say.
Of the 12 applicants for the position, three were selected as finalists and Zamora was not among them. The reason? Bruce Hodge, the court counsel who had helped with the drafting of the job description, inadvertently included the requirement that the successful applicant would have to have a "Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four year College or University or (be ) a graduate of either the FBI National Academy or the Southern Police Institute supplemented by extensive training in police science and administration, and considerable administrative experience in modern police work.
Additionally, Hodge wrote that the candidate "must have at least eight (8) years full-time job experience in law enforcement with a minimum of four (4) years in a supervisory position. Have Basic Life Support for the Professional Rescuer and Community CPR certification. Must be Licensed and TCLEOSE certified peace officer and a valid State of Texas Driver’s License."
Unfortunately, Zamora did not have the sheepskin.
Now, under the pretense that the pool of applicants was too small, it appears that the new "amended" job description will state that the county will "prefer" that the successful applicant have the BA degree rather than require it.
The move to reopen the parks rangers' department position was pushed by Pct. 1 Commissioner Sofia Benavides and she was joined by Pct.2 Ernie Hernandez to reopen it. It had been closed for the last four years and the responsibilities of security on both Boca Chica and South Padre Island – as well as security at all county parks (Cameron Park, Browne Road, Santa Maria, Olmito, etc.) was handed to Zamora when he was the constable.
In a curious turn of events, Zamora who had argued against the reestablishing of the park rangers when he held the constable's office, is now considered a front runner to fill the spot.
That in itself is nothing new. Numerous law enforcement personnel whose political fortunes have plummeted because they were on the wrong side of the voting totals have sought refuge in the dunes where they keep an eye on nefarious criminal types who would litter on the pristine beaches or (gasp!) use glass containers on an SPI outing. Gus Reyna, the current Chief Deputy with the Cameron County Sheriff Department comes to mind.
When his candidate – Omar Lucio – suffered a defeat at the hands of none other than former sheriff Conrado Cantu, he was moved over seaward to await the sea change in the next round of elections. Then, when Cantu lost, his chief deputy Juan Mendoza played musical chairs with Reyna, and on and on and on.
We now hear that there might be some opposition and legal challenges to the re-posting, but time, as they say, will only tell.