Embattled EPPD officer has no disciplinary history, commended numerous times

The El Paso Police officer on desk duty after a video surfaced showing him pointing a gun at a group of kids and teens has no disciplinary history and has been commended numerous times by his supervisors, documents obtained by ABC-7 state.

In letters of commendation submitted by El Paso Police supervisors, the officer is identified Jose Rivas (badge #2985). However, the complaint affidavit filed against Julian Saucedo, one of the juveniles seen taken into custody in the viral social media video, identifies the officer as J. Rios (badge #2985). When asked to clarify what the officer’s name is, EPPD Spokesman Sgt. Enrique Carillo told ABC-7 “We have not released the officer’s name.”

Police never identified the officer in its official news release, merely stating the officer was on desk duty while the department investigated the incident. When given an opportunity to discuss the department’s protocal for similar situations, El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen told ABC-7 he does not comment on ongoing investigations.

While many on social media defended the actions of the officer, other also criticized him, arguing there was no need to point his service weapon at the juveniles.

According to the complaint affidavit for Saucedo, on July 5, 2018, Officer Rios was called to an apartment complex at 6719 Sambrano after a caller reported four juveniles were inside a vacant apartment unit. When Rios detained a group of suspect juveniles near the scene, the group hurled insults at the officer and refused to cooperate. Brothers Julian and Jacob Saucedo were taken into custody. As the group of teens began to walk near or behind Officer Rios, he momentarily pulled out his service weapon and pointed it at the kids.

Julian Saucedo was eventually charged with interfering with a police investigation. He has since been released on a personal recognizance bond.

COMMENDATION HISTORY FOR OFFICER JOSE RIVAS

ABC-7 filed an open records request with the City of El Paso to learn if the officer seen in the video had any disciplinary history. ABC-7 received numerous letters of commendation, but no records indicating disciplinary history.

On November 25, 2016, a police sergeant nominated Officer Jose Rivas for “officer of the month.” The letter states Officer Rivas’ “keen observation skills” led Rivas and a partner to crystal meth, heroin, cocaine and a loaded revolver inside a vehicle during a routine traffic stop. “Due to their proactive patrol efforts, the officers were able to take a dangerous drug dealer off the streets and seized approximately 42 grams of illicit drugs and a handgun that could have been used in the commission of other crimes,” the police sergeant wrote in the letter, “The officers should be commended for their hard work and dedication.”

In a letter to the police department’s awards committe, dated February 9, 2018, a police sergeant recommended Officer Rivas be commended for saving the life of a woman about to commit suicide by jumping off a freeway bridge. “Officer Rivas knew the department had trained resources (to deal with the suicidal woman) but felt that the time frame required to deploy such resources would take too long,” the sergeant states in the letter, “Officer Rivas approached the subject unnoticed and hear-hugged her from behind, pulling her off the guardrail.”

The letter further states, “Officer Rivas took immediate action upon his arrival at the scene, which resulted in the saving of human life. Without such immediate action, the (woman) would have committed suicide, according to her own self admission.”

In January 2015, Officer Rivas was part of the graveyard unit at Central Regional Command nominated for “unit of the year.” The letter states, “It takes a special person to be able to work the graveyard shift, which challenges everything that anyone would define as a ‘normal life.’ Sleep patterns, eating patterns, family life are all literally reversed for each officer assigned to this shift, and yet, they each make the best of it while continually presenting themselves as professional members of the department.”

Officer Rivas was also commended for his teamwork skills as police arrested a couple who burglarized a vehicle. On another occasion, Rivas was praised for his work investigating a beer run, which ultimately led to the arrest of a suspect wanted on several outstanding warrants.