Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
In his recent address to the McAllen Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Series, Police Chief Victor Rodriguez detailed the McAllen Police Department’s operations and volume of service in 2024, providing the public with an unfiltered view of what it takes to manage public safety in one of the fastest-growing cities in the Rio Grande Valley.
McAllen PD responded to more than 135,000 calls for service last year. “That’s one call every 3.9 minutes, around the clock, every day of the year,” Chief Rodriguez told attendees. The volume of service spanned everything from disturbances to public assistance, encompassing over 8,000 traffic accidents—averaging one every hour.
Despite the volume, the department continues to operate with fewer resources than its authorized strength. The McAllen PD is budgeted for 317 sworn officers, but regularly operates with about 60 officers fewer than that number due to vacancies and training assignments. “We are always operating below our authorized strength,” Rodriguez explained. “That’s not unique to McAllen—it’s a reality for departments across the country.”
The department’s total staff stands at 461 employees, making it one of the largest single departments within the City of McAllen. Its current annual operating budget is $47.5 million, which, Rodriguez noted, is primarily covered by the city’s ad valorem property tax revenue. “In McAllen, police and fire departments together account for the entirety of that revenue. That’s how seriously we prioritize public safety,” he said.
According to Rodriguez, one of the department’s key strengths is its operational discipline. “We start every day at 7:15 a.m. without fail,” he said. “Seven of us gather, including my assistant chiefs. We review the previous day’s activity, call by call, and push information both up and across the department.”
This daily command briefing structure enables the department to track patterns and respond to crime trends in real time. “It forces everyone to be informed and accountable,” Rodriguez said. “It’s how we spot problems early—whether it’s a crime trend, a spike in traffic issues, or something else entirely.”
Rodriguez also mentioned that McAllen receives one false 911 call approximately every 8.4 hours. “That’s not a small number, and every one of those still demands a response. We treat each one seriously until it’s proven otherwise,” he said.
The briefing concluded with a reaffirmation of the department’s commitment to proactive, data-informed policing. “The work is nonstop, and the numbers prove it. But with the right systems in place, we manage it—day after day, minute by minute,” he said.
