After growing up in Victoria, I currently reside in College Station. As one who wants to return home upon graduation I'm sad to see these types situations in the news. Victoria is an up and coming town with the potential for significant economic growth. Unfortunately, small-town scandals such as these do little to inspire families and young professionals to move into the area. There needs to be a clean-up in Victoria's law enforcement and I believe this is a good place to start.
On a side note, its unfortunate that in today's society people can't simply admit when they have been caught and slip quietly away in an effort to avoid more harm on their organization. Instead they must showboat and create a scene that could cause irreparable damage to Victoria's law enforcement team. The brave men and women serving Victoria shouldn't have to be put under added scrutiny due to one man's lack of character and integrity. Throw the book at him, Victoria should harbor no home for lousy, crooked public servants.

BTW Jbar.... the rules of posting on this forum strictly prohibit personal attacks and name-calling..... I think you should re-word or delete your comment.

If anyone in this city/county wishes to show their support for the brave men and women in law enforcement, wear a blue ribbon.... By the end of the day, I will have several dozen made up and you can contact me via this site!

I don't care why Ure was fired from his previous job.... from all indications he's done a fine job of leading this city's police force and he has my support as do all law officers of VPD and VCSO!

I forgot the conclusion: Friendswood is to Lake Jackson as Victoria is to Goliad or Cuerro. JAMES
Thanks TomC forthe Chron link re: Webster. February 13, 2008 Ure spoke at the Texas Municipal League as Ure Consulting of Victoria. Did this city pay his travel expenses? Victoria Fire Chief Riley knew knew Ure from Friendswood. Then a desk in a different city every year - Missouri City, Webster,  Hedwig Village, Heath and Watauga. He kept that dark shirt with the 2 stars on the collar, changing only the city patch on the sleeve. Asst. Mgr. Garret and Capt. Boyd traveled out of town to investigate Ure's credentials. Usually that is done via computer and telephone. It should have been done at all. Cagle's office is in League City but his residence is Friendswood. This is redneck good ole boys versus Aggies with law degrees. I don't like their arrogance but you cannot hire someone just because you like what they say. Ure needs a new career. Victoria is the last of his string. The voters will have turned out 2 DA's for doing what they knew in their heart was right. The only winner in this drama - Echeverry skates.   JAMES hofacker27@netscape.com
PS: The division in Victoria, and Deacon (former sheriff) Mickey's church and nationally is grass roots, local control conservative (Populist) versus deep pockets, top down, national Conservative organization. large "C" versus small "c".  Corruption seems to be winning.
 

sickandtired...you seem to want to minimize the charges against Ure. T
The article states he used the copierfor his personal business...not just a copy here and there like many employees do. The article also says he used other equipment for his personal business. Isn't that theft?  Would you, as a taxpayer of that city, want your tax dollars used that way?
He made flight reservations after being told not do do so (apparently by a supervisor). I would call that willful, purposeful disobedience.
The article also states the city manager upheld the firing of Ure.  And, apparently, Ure was not successful in his lawsuit agains the city. So that tells me the city had legitimate, legal  reasons to fire him...not bb gun ammunition.
He used a city cell phone for personal use. Yes, the article states he paid the city back, but it is not clear if it was after he was caught doing it or not. That would make a difference in my opinion.
I am a businessman. If an employee of mine did these things, I would fire them. I work in the private sector, and I would expect public sector employees to abide by the rules as well.
Would you want an employee that does those things working for you?
Why was all of this not made public when Ure was hired by the City Council?
THIS IS THE MAN WHO IS AT THE HEAD OF THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT?????   I understand that this does not mean he is guilty of what he has been charged with here in Victoria...but it does kinda make you wonder what kind of person he is, right?
 

Is that the article southtexas? If so, is that all you got? That's bb gun ammo! He got in trouble for using the copy machine for personal use, rather accused of. Oh please, I did that more than once. He used the city cell phone for personal use, and paid what he used????? Hmmmmm, if you are paying for it, who cares!!!!!! My wife use to call me all the time at work. I never got canned and no one thought it was a big deal. Southtexas I'm sure one of your friends/relatives called you when you worked. To the gallows with both of us! Ure is such a heinous paper copier and honest phone user. How dare he be allowed to run the streets.

texasmom and others...here is an article on Ure that was in the Chronicle. I do not know if it was the one that southtexas was referring to:

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/arc...

South Texas show us.. if its that simple to copy and paste..Show us the proof! We are waiting..... Thats what i thought you have no proof! You are just blowing smoke!

Like baking cookies for Tyler southtexas? And we aren't lazy, I personnaly and publicly calling your bluff. If you have these so called articles, let's see it? You're firm that our law enforcement is idiots and Tyler is doing a wonderful job. Then seems you would want to forward those to us. You know what southtexas, I think our law enforcement does a good job. I have proof, Melba Lott case, Sebastian Mejia case are two examples of cold cases recently solved. You say they are basically incompetent, why? Because you sit behind your computer all day reading what Tyler says when he declines cases? To you what Tyler says is gospel. But I bet you call these "idiots" if you see a person prowling around your yard or when you are in a traffic accident. They are good enough then huh? Your profile says you were and may still be a hippie, well its starting to show.

And Texas Mom....unlike others on here who are lucky enough to be retired and posting on here is now their primary interest....not saying that is a bad thing.....but I do have places I must go and responsibilities I must fullfill.

I told you that all of the excerpts from the Newspaper articles about Ure are on these forums.....That is where I read them. I am not going to spend hours going back through and cutting and pasting because you are too lazy to go back and look.

And just what does that excerpt from my profile tell you....other than I believe in an after life. And why do you refer to me as "she". That's too funny!

sickintired.. South Texas is ignoring us!

texasmom, I think several of us are waiting on southtexas to answer the Houston Chronicle articles. In case you missed my post last night, here is something from her profile which ought to tell you A LOT about her and her opinions: "...and I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is an afterlife. I have talked to a lot of people who have been there....even some who went to the bad place instead of the all loving light."
And TTAMAYO who do you think you are? Come down here and straighten things out huh? Gimme a break robocop. SO when you arrest people, do you feel they are guilty or are they innocent until proven guilty? Ure is innoncent, but people like you are convicting him in the court of public opinion. So Mr. Tamayo if this were you, how would you react to YOUR post?
Tyler is bumbling up the judicial system. Reminds me of Barney Fife on how he quotes code numbers.

"JWayne...you did not answer the hypothetical question. I did not ask who you would you blame."

STG... I did answer your question, you just didn't see it. I will explain. In the event a tragedy was perpitrated, and the State represented my interests, and a private or court appointed Attorney represented the defendant, I would take it upon myself to understand that the defense attorney has a job to do. I would not take his representation of the defendant personal. I would however hold Law Enforcement including the DA responsible for proving the case. Part of what makes a good DA is someone that encourages Law Enforcement. Someone that builds bridges/relationships in the community between different agencies and entities that make up the criminal justice system of the place I call Home. A leader who can handle power and share it with others. Someone who clearly recognizes who the "Good Guys" are and their intent. The defense is few, the DA has the entire Criminal Justice system at his disposal. Many men and women who know the meaning of Honor, Duty, and Cause above Self. Quality people that would literally die fulfilling their duty to Serve and Protect if it meant our home was a safer place for us and our children. If I felt the DA had let me and our brave, loyal LE community down because he was unable to utilize such a magnificant Criminal Justice System, for whatever reasons, be they personal or political, then I would be forced to seek that DA's removal in the interest of justice and the safety of my City, Victoria, my home.

"simply because you are found "not guilty" that DOES NOT mean you are innocent of the crime."

STG...Yes, it does.

JWayne..perhaps we can continue our discussion later. Right now, I have to get to work.

JWayne...you did not answer the hypothetical question. I did not ask who you would you blame.

I recognize your concept of "Innocent until proven guilty". You fail to understand, or accept, the concept that simply because you are found "not guilty" that DOES NOT mean you are innocent of the crime. It means there was not enough evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to convict you.

"JWayne....well, apparently my opinion carries some weight because YOU keep responding."

STG... I'm just being patient.;)

"Again...being found "not guilty" does NOT mean you are innocent. It just means there was not enough evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to convict you.

OJ Simpson was found "not guilty". Was he innocent?"

STG... If you are presumed innocent until found guilty what are you if you are found not guilty?
NOT GUILTY=INNOCENT

"JWayne...how about answering this question I posed to you:Hypothetically, if a member of your family was attacked, and that same defense attorney represented the individual who you knew was guilty, and the resulting verdict was "not guilty"...would you still praise the attorney for his abilities? Would your family member feel the same way about the attorney? How about the community? Should the community feel comfortable with him (the defendant) still being in the community?"

STG... It is not the defense Attorney's responsibility to provide a cruddy defense, quite the contrary, however, it is the resposibility of the DA to prove his case to the Judge and Jury. If the DA is incapable of proving the allegation, is that the defenses' fault? The defense cannot win the case if the DA didn't lose it. I would be let down by our LE Officers and DA and his Investigators. If you were ever to get into trouble, God forbid, you would want that defense attorney, but more so you would want the DA that is unable to prove his case to a Judge or Jury.:)

Again...being found "not guilty" does NOT mean you are innocent. It just means there was not enough evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to convict you.

OJ Simpson was found "not guilty". Was he innocent?

JWayne...how about answering this question I posed to you:Hypothetically, if a member of your family was attacked, and that same defense attorney represented the individual who you knew was guilty, and the resulting verdict was "not guilty"...would you still praise the attorney for his abilities? Would your family member feel the same way about the attorney? How about the community? Should the community feel comfortable with him (the defendant) still being in the community?

Again...I am sure there are VPD and SO officers who could relate stories of individuals being found "not guilty" by a jury...but that VPD officer or SO officer knows differently. Would you agree?

NO! Again "NOT GUILTY=INNOCENT"

"JWayne...Ok, let me re-phrase and ask you something. Do you think that there have ever been any situations in which a jury found a person "not guilty"...but they were?"

NO! That my friend is an oxymoronic question. LMAO Again "NOT GUILTY=INNOCENT"

STG... If the DA was unable to PROVE a defendant GUILTY to a Judge or Jury, and the defendant had in fact committed the crime, the lack of proof is not the defendants fault. I would be upset with the DA's lack of evidence that allowed the defendant to go free. Put the blame where you may.

JWayne....well, apparently my opinion carries some weight because YOU keep responding.

I noticed you did not answer any of my questions, too.

STG.... We are talking about the legal definition of guilty, not your or anyone elses opinion of guilty. If the court/Judge/Jury, said "not guilty", guess what, that means innocent and your opinion means nothing. Your opinion carries no weight on this forum or in a cCourt of Law.:) Don't hate, life is to short.

South Texas, I am still waiting for that Houston Chronicle thingy you were gonna tell us about. i will be patiently waiting on your respond!

JWayne...Ok, let me re-phrase and ask you something. Do you think that there have ever been any situations in which a jury found a person "not guilty"...but they were?

Again...I am sure there are VPD and SO officers who could relate stories of individuals being found "not guilty" by a jury...but that VPD officer or SO officer knows differently. Would you agree?

That "not guilty" individual then goes back to his old job where he has the opportunity to perform his misdeed again. Are you comfortable with that? Should the community be comfortable with that?

Again..I ask you about O.J. Simpson. The jury found him "not guilty". But was he innocent?

You lavished praise on the defense attorney. Hypothetically, if a member of your family was attacked, and that same defense attorney represented the individual who you knew was guilty, and the resulting verdict was "not guilty"...would you still praise the attorney for his abilities? Would your family member feel the same way? How about the community?

My opinion...and it still has the same weight as yours. Get used to it.

"Jwayne...Any person involved in law enforcement will tell you that a person who is guilty of a crime can be (and sometimes is) found innocent by a jury."

STG... It is not the job of the Officer to find the Def. guilty, but that of a jury. So, how can you say "a person who is guilty can be found innocent by a jury"? If the jury did find a defendant "innocent", what would the defendant have been prior to having been found innocent, guilty? That is wrong headed thinking. Even if an Officer were to see the crime committed in front of him, the Officer has to understand that the defendant is innocent until the evidence and jury say otherwise. The officer must understand that the defendant is an innocent person until proven otherwise. If the Officer undertstands that the Defendant is innocent even after being caught red-handed and arrested, the Officer may be more diligent in collecting evidence or prepairing the case. Even when the Defendant is caught red-handed the Officer must never assume or Judge the Defendant guilty, that is not his job.

STG... Also try to sell that to a jury when you're being sued for discriminating against some one for being found not guilty. Let's see you deny them housing, a job or anything else for that matter based on your logic. To a jury, your opinion would not carry the same weight, you would lose.

STG.. No jury has ever found anyone "innocent", only guilty or not guilty. Again, "Innocent until proven Guilty", not guilty=innocent. Let me see you try to discriminate against somebody based on "public opinion" when the person was found not guilty and I'll show you some one begging to be sued!

You know Sailor....I wish I could buy you for what you are worth and sell you for what you think you are worth....I would be a billionaire.

Now you are diagnosing psychiatric disorders. Spare me!!!!

Read the indictments and figure where so many counts can be fabricated by a grand jury, not the DA? These 2 fools cooked their own goose and belong in the clink. This guy needs to take a paid leave.

I worked for the Victoria police dept from 1996 to 2000. When I was there it was a good and respected department. I now work for a department in north Texas, but I still read the Advocate online to stay informed of what is going on in Victoria. I used to be proud to tell other officers in north Texas that I was a police officer in Victoria. Now, after reading about the former sheriff and the current police chief, I'm somewhat embarassed. I hope everyone in the law enforcement community in Victoria gets their act together so I can once again be proud to be a former Victoria police officer. Maybe I should come back down there and straighten things out.

Jwayne...Any person involved in law enforcement will tell you that a person who is guilty of a crime can be (and sometimes is) found innocent by a jury. That finding by a jury does not mean the person did not do the crime. I'm sure any member of the VPD or SO that may be posting on here has a story they can tell about a person they know was guilty, but was found "innocent" by a jury.
O.J. Simpson.....innocent?
That's my opinion. Like it or not, it has the same weight as yours and anyone else.

The presumption of innocence ,and the assumption of guilt carry the same weight in the court of public opinion.

Southtexas... Either you believe in our system of law or you don't. Appearantly you don't, being that you are labeling an "innocent man"(remember innocent until proven guilty, if not proven guilty = innocent) a sexual preditor. Sounds slanderous to me. Your Mr. Tyler takes nothing but absolutely complete cases remember. He has his own investigators. If his own investigators could not sew up this case, what does it say about their compentency and the true leadership at the DA's office? Fact is the Officer was tried in a court of law and found NOT GUILTY. Remember again, "Innocent until proven Guilty" NOT GUILTY=INNOCENT. So Southtexas, your opinion has no weight in this forum.

southtexasguy Who are you calling a sexual predator?

Waiting for the trial....hmmmm .... maybe they can just combine his trial and ratcliff's together ....and if you believe we will actually live long enough to see the chief cleared and ratcliff sent up then I have a bridge to sell you.

Greg Cagle is from League City and he is an attorney for the Police Association...he has defended some big cases...won some...lost some. It looks like Ure is taking this very seriously. I don't know if it is because he knows he did it or not...waiting for the trial will be hard.

Would be "darn good at what he does" include helping to keep a sexual predator on the Victoria police force?

Greg Cagle? If this is the Greg Cagle I'm thinking of, then get ready for the show! The man is darn good at what he does.

Greg Cagle is the best of the best, and I'm not quite sure Steve Tyler knows what he is about to experience. He certainly will get an experience battling Cagle. Get ready and enjoy the ride, because if Greg Cagle is on the offensive, its going to get ugly.

TPRV
Not out-of-body-experiences! Out-of-his-mind experiences!

“My name’s nowhere on it,”??.... is he not the "Criminal District Attorney"? (for now) Is he now having "out of body" experiences?

I think it's time Tyler stops trying to cover up his cover ups! Since the beginning of this he says one thing, then says something else that doesn't make sense. Don't believe me, then go back and read everything he has said. I'm confused Mr. Tyler!! Am I the only one?????