SAN BENITO – A local police department said the temporary closure of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Police Academy had an impact on their hiring.

San Benito police said they have not hired a single officer since the shutdown. It left the department understaffed causing many other police officers to work overtime.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS rode along with the department to see how it’s affecting their patrols.

San Benito Police Chief Michael Galvan said most of the people who apply to be an officer with their department still needs to be certified. With no academy nearby, they have to put applications on hold.

“We’re basically waiting. We’re waiting for that next academy to start,” Galvan said.

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and Harlingen police investigated the academy after claims of excessive use of force.

Galvan said the hold on the facility stopped them from hiring more officers.

“If they are certified, we can put them to work right away. If they are not certified, then we have to send them to a police academy to get trained,” he said.

While there are other academies in Texas, Galvan said they don’t count with funding to send trainees.  

“We could send them to another academy farther away, but it’s going to come at a cost and that cost is not something we are prepared financially,” he said.

Since the shutdown, Galvan said it’s been the norm for officers to work overtime. Officer Eloy Martinez said the shortage means having to patrol longer to make sure the city is covered.

“We’re on the street as much as we can be,” he said. “I want to say at least three to four times a week, depending on the shift.”

TCOLE has allowed the police academy to reopen this year under strict guidelines. However, the San Benito police chief said they won’t be able to hire until classes end this summer.