Del Rio Town Hall with Councilman Jim DeReus Addresses Police Staffing Concerns

The City of Del Rio listed a town hall meeting with Councilman James “Jim” DeReus for Feb. 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Del Rio Civic Center Cottonwood Room, inviting all Del Rio residents to “share ideas, voice concerns, and ask questions,” city social posts said. The City of Del Rio Government Facebook image included the slogan “Your voice matters. We hope to see you there!” and the post described the session as an open District II discussion.

City social channels and the municipal calendar carried the Feb. 19 listing; the Facebook post displayed 3 reactions, 1 comment and 2 shares, and one commenter, David Shelton, asked, “Hi do you guys have a local job board? I have a position open specifically in Del Rio.” A partial Instagram post by the city similarly invited residents to “share your ideas, voice concerns, and ask questions” about District II, though that Instagram text was truncated in the material provided.

Separately, a Del Rio City Council meeting roundup by Karen Gleason at the 830 Times reported that “Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus announced he will host the first town hall meeting of the new year beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at the Del Rio Civic Center.” The two dates appear in the record; the sources do not state whether the Jan. 22 and Feb. 19 listings refer to the same meeting, a rescheduled session, or two separate events.

The 830 Times summary of the council meeting noted that all seven members of the Del Rio City Council were present and highlighted citizen concerns about police staffing and pay. Linda Guanajuato Webb, an elected member of the local public school district’s board of trustees, told the council about “the chronic shortage of police officers” in Del Rio and about “the low pay Del Rio police officers receive compared to salaries paid to officers in other departments in the region,” and she urged the council “to do what is right and necessary” to increase local police officers’ salaries. The roundup also recorded Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez wishing Del Rioans a “Happy New Year” and thanking citizens for “working with us, engaging with us” in 2025, and Councilman Randy Quinones encouraging anyone wishing to run for city council to call the city secretary. The account included a truncated note that Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. reminded citizens they have the opportunity “to vote [...]”.

City biographical information shows James “Jim” DeReus was elected to represent Del Rio’s District II on June 23, 2018; the city profile also states he was born in Iowa and includes a truncated education line. The 830 Times used the title Mayor Pro-tem for DeReus in its Jan. 22 announcement, while city materials identify him as Councilman and note his 2018 election date.

Because the public record includes both the Feb. 19 city posting and the Jan. 22 830 Times announcement without clarifying whether they are the same event, city calendar entries and the city secretary’s office remain the definitive sources to confirm whether one meeting was rescheduled or whether multiple town halls were planned. The posts and council discussion make clear that police staffing and pay were top concerns being raised in city conversations this month.