When an Austin suburb wanted a police chief to shake up its male-entrenched culture, it recruited a law enforcement executive from retirement a diverse hire with a résumé that brimmed with experience and accolades.
A year after Jessica Robledo retired as an Austin police assistant chief in 2016, she was leading the Pflugerville Police Department, directed by city leaders to diversify the force and implement more modern policing standards.
“I was ready to take on the opportunity,” said Robledo, who is Hispanic and lesbian and took the job in early 2017. “I didn’t see it as a challenge because I knew that my heart and intentions were always going to be in the right place.”
Pflugerville Police Chief Jessica Robledo steps down after four years
By Amanda Salinas and FOX 7 Austin Digital Team
Published
Chief Robledo served the Pflugerville Police Department for four years and is re-entering retirement.
PFLUGERVILLE, Texas - Pflugerville Police Chief Jessica Robledo is reentering retirement and is stepping down from her position. Robledo was the city s first female and Latina police chief and served the city for four years starting as Interim Police Chief on January 6, 2017 and as Chief of Police beginning February 14, 2017.
With the energy Chief Robledo brought to Pflugerville, when I met her I told people she reminded me of ‘pop rocks’ candy because her energy level never faltered, Pflugerville Mayor Victor Gonzales said in a news release. Chief enhanced our community engagement and grew our police department. We wish her well.
A Williamson County man who forced a neighborhood evacuation Tuesday threatened to burn down his house, kill law enforcement officers and commit suicide just days after authorities served him divorce papers last month, court papers show.
John Christopher Crawson, 47, is charged with making terroristic threats in connection to this week s incident at his home outside Round Rock. Officials say they found homemade bombs in his house, prompting an evacuation of nearby homes.
Authorities arrested Crawson on the felony charge Tuesday at his home in the 2500 block of Santa Barbara Loop. Sheriff’s Lt. Jason Braeutigam said investigators found multiple improvised explosive devices there when officers executed a search warrant.
Jessica Robledo, Pflugerville s first female and Latina police chief, announced her retirement Tuesday night.
Robledo has led the Pflugerville Police Department since 2017. Prior to that, she was an Austin police officer for 30 years and retired in 2016 from the Austin Police Department, where she had served as an assistant police chief.
Both Robledo and city spokeswoman Maggie Holman declined to comment on the reasoning for the chief s departure. The Statesman has submitted an open records request for Robledo s personnel file, including all recommendations, reviews, formal complaints and any disciplinary actions.
In a statement on Twitter, Robledo said: 4 years ago, I came out of retirement to answer the call to serve this amazing community as your Chief. As I transition to another chapter of my life, I am thankful to the people of Pflugerville, Mayor Gonzales and Council for this honor. Love you PF!”
Pflugerville Police Chief Jessica Robledo retires kvue.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kvue.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.