Galena Park’s police chief, Edward Mata, was replaced by Mayor Esmeralda Moya and City Commissioner Rodney Chersky this week, according to media sources.
The Mayor was reportedly unhappy with Mata because he let an audience member, former City Commissioner Maricela Serna, speak out several words of disagreement during the last Commissioner’s meeting on Tuesday, February 21. He warned her not to speak during the meeting, but did not remove her from the room, which is what the Mayor thought should have been done.
The city reportedly appointed a new “interim” police chief from the department’s roster. Mata had been chief since last June 2016, and also served on the force as an officer, prior to 2014.