A True Hero: Rolando Flores Villegas

I extend my sympathy to the family and friends, and the follow officers of this brave man, the Commander of State Police investigators in Tamaulipas. Of course he was well aware of the dangers involved in the mere act of serving as a police officer in Mexico, even more so the increased risk of attempting to arrest murder suspects who were known to be members of the Gulf Cartel. On Tuesday the great risk became all too real. This officer was not merely murdered, as terrible as that is in itself, but he was obviously captured, tortured, and died an agonizing death to horrible to contemplate. As a further taunting insult to police, indeed to the GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO, Commander Flores was beheaded. His body was dumped at one military facility, his head delivered in a suitcase to another military post. This brave officer was killed at the hands of the drug lords, but his bravery must be remembered. At the obvious risk of death, Commander Flores carried out his sworn duty to protect and TO SERVE the people - the Commander died while serving the Hartleys, a family who were not even Mexican citizens.

I, for one, would like to honor Commander Rolando Flores Villegas with the full measure of respect and reverence due any police officer in Texas. As a former police officer, I know myself well enough to know that I would not have had the fortitude to continue as a peace officer given the obstacles and the sheer danger that Mexican police officers, at all levels, face on a daily basis. Beyond that, the officers there also must come to terms with the daily possibility that their families face the same fears and dangers. Unlike the loved ones of officers here in the United States, the families of Mexican police officers are in direct and imminent danger at all times. In spite of all this, officers such as Commander Flores continue to do their jobs, and unfortunately, to die all too often in the performance of those duties. For Commander Flores, and the other fallen officers, I say Rest In Peace. Commander Flores, you are a true Texas hero!