Police Association’s Radio Ad Targets El Paso City Council

As the next round in the debate between El Paso’s police association and City Council draws near, a new radio ad making a mockery of the council is set to hit radio airwaves on Monday.

In the spoof ad, actors play the role of City Council members openly talking about slashing the Police Department’s budget and “laying off” officers in order to cover up for their excessive spending.

City Rep. Beto O’rourke quickly fired back after listening to the ad.

“I think the police union — not the police force, and not the police officers — but the union is out of control,” he said.

O’rourke’s comments were directed at the police association administrators who put out the ad.

The police union didn’t return any calls seeking comment about the radio ad on Friday.

El Paso Mayor John Cook also chimed in after hearing the ad. In a written statement he said, “They act as though we don’t have 10 percent unemployment. They act as though the economic recession isn’t real. By the way, they could also use some help developing an effective radio ad.”

The police association’s president, Ron Martin, has been an outspoken opponent of the City Council’s decision to force the officers to take furloughs in order to make up for a budget shortfall.

The police union voted to not re-negotiate their contract with the city and put off their raises again. As a result, the city is forcing them to take furloughs before increasing taxes in the Sun City.