Cuero police chief announces retirement
30-year law enforcement veteran to join state agency as investigator
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CUERO – Police Chief Glenn Mutchler is retiring effective at the end of the month.
In a letter dated Thursday to interim city manager Marie Gelles, Mutchler, who has served as police chief seven years, wrote, “the past 13 years serving the community of Cuero have been some of the best years of my law enforcement career. I have made one of those heart-wrenching decisions. I am announcing my retirement as chief of police effective July 31, 2008.’
Mutchler, who has been with the CPD since 1995, said he is leaving “on his own terms.” He has been hired as a special investigator for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and will be working out of the Victoria office.
“The investigations that stirred me the most during my career were those in which people mistreated kids,” said Mutchler. “I am excited about getting back to those type of investigations.”
In his letter Mutchler wrote about the goals and accomplishments during his tenure as chief.
“The crime rate has dropped from more than 400 reported crimes in 2000 to about 240 in 2007,” wrote Mutchler. “The Cuero Police Department has identified, investigated, and arrested more than 100 drug dealers and users and more than 50 gang members in the past five years. … There is still much work to be done, but there has been a positive impact and we have made great leaps in ensuring the safety of our community.”
DeWitt County Sheriff Jode Zavesky said he would “miss Mutchler.”
“One of the things we were able to do is mend some fences between our departments,” said the sheriff. “The cooperation between our departments has been outstanding the last few years. We’re both too small to do it all alone and he understood that. My hat’s off to Chief Mutchler and his department. I am proud of the Cuero Police Department’s efforts. I hope whoever comes in will continue that spirit of cooperation.”
Former Cuero mayor W.L. “Buzz” Edge also had high praise for Mutchler.
“I found Chief Mutchler to be very professional and ran a very good department,” said Edge. “I thought it was one of the better run departments in the city. They had many successes.”
Also in his letter Mutchler thanked the community, his officers and staff and several current and former city officials Notably missing from the letter were the names of the current mayor and former councilman Randy Saenz and current councilman Eric Pena, both who have been on the city council during Mutchler’s tenure as chief. Mutchler refused to comment on the omissions of their names. Mutchler is the second high-ranking Cuero official to retire in recent months. Corlis Riedesel retired as city manager the week following the May elections.
“The past 13 years serving the community of Cuero have been some of the best years of my law enforcement career,” concluded Mutchler in his letter. He and his family will continue to live in Cuero.
Sonny Long is a reporter for the Victoria Advocate. He can be reached at 361-580-6585, by e-mail at slong@vicad.com, or comment on this story at VictoriaAdvocate.com.
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txcowgirl...growup
July 22, 2008 at 12:56 p.m.your comment is insuating that all police officers are crooked and prejudice...and thats not true
I, too, know Glenn Mutchler and I have also never been in trouble with the law. I agree with txcowgirl. There are too many crooked people in law enforcement. And not just Cuero.
July 19, 2008 at 11:21 p.m.just to let yall know i have met and do know Glen mutchler! I also am not predjudice in any way! I am amrried to a white man! Anyways i have never ever been in any type of trouble with the law. If yall dont know what goes on then open your eyes! there are way to many predjudice people in Cuero! Trust me, i was born and raised in Cuero! There are a lot of the police officers in Cuero that tend to think that they are above the law and do the same thing that they are locking people up everyday for! To protect and to serve? Ha ha ha what a joke!
July 19, 2008 at 10:12 p.m.Sad for Cuero. And it's probably because they are in close proximity to Victoria.
July 19, 2008 at 11:17 a.m.Being from Cuero,I think its sad that the town is losing a great asset. I have a feeling Cuero's going to take a turn for the worse.
July 19, 2008 at 11:05 a.m.txcow/lonestar ; they have clues on sell at Wal*Mart. I think you better get down there and get one.
July 19, 2008 at 12:49 a.m.Chief Mutchler is and will always be a great police officer. He has served the city of Cuero well and is an honest man. The people who are glad he has retired are the ones who have trouble with the police and the new city council who wants the city of cuero to crumble. We will unfortunately have to wait to see what happens to Cuero.
July 18, 2008 at 10:25 p.m.Sounds to me like both txcowgirl and lonestarlady have been on the receiving end of some law enforcement activity. Why else would they be so negative about someone they don't even know. Good comments, xring.
July 18, 2008 at 8 p.m.Well said xring, I have known the chief just about since he became chief, he is one of the most outstanding people you will ever meet, and is someone who truly cares about our town and what goes on here, he will definitely be a true loss to Cuero. The city should do whatever they can to keep him here. Those of us, who truly know him, know this was probably one of the hardest decisions he has ever made, and wish him the best of luck.
July 18, 2008 at 3:14 p.m.txcowgirl and lonestarlady apparently have never met the chief. Funny how they can judge a person's character without the pleasure of making the acquaintance. Thankfully the good Lord will measure them with the same cup they used to measure others. My prediction for the Cuero government? The recent elections will prove to be detrimental. No chief, no city manager, and a city secretary that has previously filed a lawsuit against the city and remains on the payroll. The infrastructure will suffer and law enforcement will start to look for employment elsewhere. Hmmmm.
July 18, 2008 at 11:55 a.m.I'm glad there's another crooked city official going. 2 down ? many to go.
July 18, 2008 at 10:09 a.m.Cuero's loss is Victoria's gain.
July 18, 2008 at 9:51 a.m.I also think it's awesome he retired and has the chance to get back to some basics of law enforcement. I have personally known Chief Mutchler for some time and know that he is one of the most honest peace officers in Texas. It is sad that some folks want to attack a person's credibility just because that person chooses to make his/her life and the life of his/her family better. Honesthy and integrity begins at the top of an organization and trickles down. Cuero Police Department is just one of those types of organizations. No, I don't work there and never have. From the negative and hate filled comment made, perhaps more persons with like attitudes should leave town.
July 18, 2008 at 9:31 a.m.I think its awsome that he retired! I am truley happy that we finally have some ethnic people in office in Cuero! Cuero is full of predjudice people in office. Not only that but it sure is funny that Corlis Reidesel "retired" but, went to work at trusT Texas Bank where there was no position, but convinetly there was one made for her? i hope that they get rid of alot of those crooked cops in cuero as well! I am so glad to have gotton out of that town! Too many predjudice owners of busniesses! We will see what happens.....
July 18, 2008 at 8:32 a.m.