Brownsville Police Officer Victor Mendez was suspended after an internal review found he used the Trusted Driver digital citation system to obtain a woman’s phone number four days after stopping her. A disciplinary letter states Mendez contacted the woman and later met with her while he was on duty. Police Chief Felix Sauceda concluded that neither the later access nor the meeting served a valid law-enforcement purpose. Mendez voluntarily accepted a three-workday suspension without pay and waived his right to appeal.

Trusted Driver Introduced as a Tool for Transparency

Brownsville police publicly announced the department-wide implementation of its new digital citation system on May 28, 2025. The department said Trusted Driver modernized how citations and warnings were issued and accessed while offering residents greater convenience and transparency. Drivers would receive a citation card containing a QR code, while Brownsville Municipal Court could send a secure link and important updates to the phone number provided during the stop. Police encouraged residents to keep their contact information accurate so they could fully benefit from the system.

From a Warning Citation to an Internal Review

According to the letter, Mendez stopped the woman at approximately 10:15 a.m. on March 9, 2026, and issued her a warning through Trusted Driver. On March 13, he accessed the system to obtain her telephone number and then contacted her. Three days later, on March 16, Mendez met with the woman while he was on duty. The department’s review determined he had no legitimate law-enforcement reason for accessing the number or arranging the meeting.

Police Cite Unauthorized Use and Damage to Public Trust

Sauceda cited Brownsville Police Department policies governing unauthorized access, disclosure and use of information obtained through an officer’s employment. One cited provision prohibits using department-accessed information for personal or financial gain or without authorization from the police chief or an authorized designee. Other policies prohibit conduct that discredits the department, violates city rules or reflects unfavorably upon the agency and its personnel. The letter also cites state civil-service grounds involving conduct prejudicial to good order, a lack of good moral character and violations of police rules.

The chief determined that the allegations against Mendez were sustained and described his conduct as inconsistent with the professionalism, integrity and accountability expected of police personnel. Sauceda wrote that the officer’s actions adversely affected the department’s credibility and could “undermine public trust in our commitment to ethical law enforcement practices.” Mendez agreed to serve the suspension from April 13, through April 15, 2026.

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