The North East Independent School District (NEISD) Police Department is facing scrutiny as detailed records about Officer Rachel Mariano’s disciplinary history come to light. Despite a pattern of repeated infractions—ranging from inappropriate relationships and policy violations to insubordination and absenteeism—Mariano has managed to avoid suspension. These revelations raise serious concerns about the department’s handling of officer discipline and its potential impact on public trust.
A Career Begun in Controversy
Officer Rachel Mariano’s professional journey began with a shadowed past. At age 17, she was arrested for possession of marijuana in a school zone, a Class A misdemeanor under Texas law. This legal issue occurred in December 2007 under Bexar County Cause Number CC237230. After being granted deferred adjudication, she completed community supervision, and her charges were dismissed. Though she disclosed the incident in her personal history statement, framing it as a youthful indiscretion, questions linger over whether she required a waiver from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to receive her Peace Officer License.
Mariano was granted her Peace Officer License on April 16, 2021, marking the beginning of what would become a turbulent career at NEISD.
May 2023: Using a Police Vehicle for Personal Business
The first major disciplinary action in Mariano’s career came on May 19, 2023, when she was reprimanded for using an NEISD police vehicle to drop off her children at school. This clear violation of department policy, which forbids transporting unauthorized individuals in official vehicles, earned Mariano a written reprimand. While such an infraction might lead to suspension in other departments, Mariano escaped with a warning, setting a concerning precedent for how the department would handle her future violations.
April 2023: A Questionable Relationship with a Fellow Officer
Perhaps one of the more personal and controversial entries in Mariano’s disciplinary history involved an inappropriate workplace relationship. On April 19, 2023, Officer Mariano disclosed to Sergeant Moses Suarez that she was in an on-and-off relationship with fellow officer Joseph McGarity. This relationship had already begun to cause tension within the department, with accusations of McGarity not treating Mariano well. In a particularly concerning twist, a third officer, Jason Guel, was involved—warning Mariano that McGarity was a “lazy officer” and cautioning her against picking up his bad habits.
The situation escalated further when Guel allegedly made racially charged remarks about McGarity, which Mariano reported but later admitted were unfounded. With tensions rising between McGarity and Guel, Mariano found herself caught in a web of accusations and personal conflicts that threatened to disrupt the department’s functioning. Sergeant Suarez had to involve multiple supervisors, warning Mariano that any further disruptions related to her personal relationships could result in disciplinary actions up to and including termination.
While the inappropriate workplace relationships and the subsequent turmoil were addressed by the supervisors, no formal suspension was enacted. Mariano was instead instructed to provide a written statement, and both McGarity and Guel were spoken to by their respective supervisors. Once again, the department’s response was lenient, issuing warnings without imposing significant consequences.
May 30, 2023: Insubordination and Defiance
Only a few weeks after the vehicle incident and the relationship drama, Mariano found herself in trouble again. On May 30, 2023, a community member reported seeing her using her cell phone while driving through a school zone—an illegal and dangerous act for any motorist, let alone a police officer. When Sergeant David Villarreal confronted her about the report, instead of acknowledging the mistake, Mariano escalated the situation. She argued that other officers also used their phones while driving, and raised her voice in a display of open defiance. Mariano then hung up on Villarreal in the middle of the conversation.
This blatant insubordination was a serious breach of department expectations. For many officers, such an incident might have led to immediate suspension. Yet once again, Mariano escaped with only a written reprimand, further calling into question the department’s approach to disciplining her.
January 2024: Allegations of Racism and Sexual Harassment
By January 2024, Mariano’s disciplinary record took another dark turn. She was reported for making a racially insensitive comment in front of several officers while at MacArthur High School. Mariano admitted to making the comment and acknowledged that it was inappropriate. Around the same time, accusations surfaced that she had made sexually suggestive remarks during the fall 2023 football season, which bordered on sexual harassment. Though Mariano claimed she was merely “joking around,” she admitted that such comments could be seen as offensive.
Instead of escalating the matter to a formal complaint, the NEISD Police Department opted to handle it internally. Mariano received only a verbal warning and was advised to be more cautious with her language. This pattern of avoidance in addressing serious misconduct raised further concerns about the department’s internal culture.
Spring 2024: Chronic Attendance Issues
Mariano’s behavior continued to deteriorate in spring 2024, as she began to exhibit chronic tardiness and absenteeism. Between March 5, 2024, and May 15, 2024, she was late for work six times and had one unexcused absence. This prompted yet another written reprimand from the department. Despite the frequency of her attendance issues, suspension was once again off the table, leaving observers wondering what it would take for the department to take more serious action.
June 1, 2024: The “No Call, No Show” Incident
The final straw for many within the department came on June 1, 2024, when Mariano failed to show up for a scheduled dispatch shift—without notifying anyone. Mariano had been assigned to cover dispatch duties for the entire month of June, but she did not report for duty on her first assigned shift. Her failure to appear forced another officer, who was scheduled to be off, to cover for her. Sergeant JoAnn Davison, who had planned to be off duty, had to step in and fill the shift.
After multiple attempts to contact Mariano went unanswered, she finally responded the next day, casually claiming that she had “gotten her days mixed up.” Despite the serious nature of this infraction, she was issued yet another written reprimand and avoided suspension.
The Department’s Leniency in Question
By June 2024, Mariano had received multiple reprimands for issues ranging from insubordination to unprofessional behavior and absenteeism. Her supervisors issued an official memo outlining her repeated violations and warning her that any further infractions could lead to termination. However, despite this long list of documented disciplinary actions, suspension had yet to be imposed.
The leniency shown by the NEISD Police Department toward Officer Mariano raises serious questions about its disciplinary practices. While other officers might have faced suspension or termination for similar offenses, Mariano has managed to avoid such consequences time and again. Her continued employment—despite a record riddled with violations—suggests a failure to enforce the standards that are essential to maintaining public trust in law enforcement.
A Troubling Pattern of Avoiding Consequences
Officer Rachel Mariano’s history with the NEISD Police Department is a troubling case of repeated misconduct met with minimal consequences. From her inappropriate workplace relationships and insubordination to her chronic attendance issues and failure to appear for scheduled shifts, Mariano’s behavior raises significant concerns about the department’s disciplinary policies. Despite receiving numerous written reprimands and verbal warnings, the lack of suspension leaves many wondering whether the department is failing to hold its officers accountable.
As Mariano remains on the force, the public is left to question whether her next infraction will finally result in the suspension or termination she has repeatedly evaded. The department’s leniency not only undermines the authority of its leadership but also erodes trust in its ability to maintain order within its ranks.
Will the NEISD Police Department continue to turn a blind eye to its problematic officer, or will Officer Rachel Mariano finally face the consequences her actions warrant? Only time will tell.
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