Edinburg Police Chief Announces Retirement After Five Years at the Helm
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
EDINBURG, Texas — Edinburg Police Chief Jaime Ayala announced that he will officially retire from the department on October 30, 2026, marking the end of five years leading the organization. Ayala took office in October 2021 and, after his tenure, will return to North Texas to spend more time with his family. His career in Edinburg began decades before he became chief. A graduate of Edinburg High School in 1983, Ayala worked as a reserve officer and dispatcher for the Edinburg Police Department. He later served for 32 years with the Arlington Police Department, where he rose to the position of assistant chief. During his five years leading the Edinburg Police, he oversaw a department of 266 officers and professional staff. Under his leadership, initiatives such as the Drone as a First Responder program, which uses drones to respond and gather information during critical incidents, as well as community policing programs and campaigns to combat drunk driving, were implemented. "Serving as police chief in the city where I grew up has been the greatest honor of my career. I am deeply grateful to the city leaders, our officers, the staff, and the community for their unwavering support over the past five years. As I prepare to return to North Texas to spend valuable time with my family, I leave knowing that the Edinburg Police Department is stronger, safer, and ready to continue achieving excellence," Ayala expressed upon announcing his retirement. The City of Edinburg stated that details regarding leadership during the transition period and the process for selecting the next police chief will be announced in the coming weeks.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
