Former Police Chief for Rio Bravo Died a Day Before Primary Elections

McAllen, Texas — Before Tuesday’s primary elections in Corpus Christi, a former police chief of Rio Bravo, located in South Texas along the border, passed away. Rene Cervantes, who was seeking a county seat as a Republican candidate for Nueces County Precinct 3 Commissioner, succumbed to colon cancer on March 4, as reported by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

Despite his untimely demise, Cervantes managed to secure over a third of the votes in the March 5 Republican primary, totaling 38.5% with 1,296 votes. However, Larry Cantu Jr. emerged victorious with 61.47% of the votes, securing the GOP nomination for the seat with 2,068 votes.

Previously serving as the chief of police for Rio Bravo, Cervantes resigned from his position in 2017 after filing a lawsuit alleging disturbing orders from then-City Administrator Miguel Berry. Cervantes claimed that Berry instructed him to “shoot the children of illegal immigrants” to facilitate the deportation of their parents, as reported by the Laredo Morning Times. Rio Bravo, a small town with a population of fewer than 5,000, lies across the Rio Grande from San Isidro, Tamaulipas.

In February 2023, local opposition arose against a state-funded border wall section that threatened to divide Rio Bravo, as part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star border security initiative.

Following his tenure in Rio Bravo, Cervantes relocated to Corpus Christi, where he unsuccessfully ran for a city council seat in 2022.

Reports from various media outlets revealed that Cervantes had been under hospice care for over a month before his passing. Many residents were unaware of his illness until news of his death emerged.

The Nueces County Republican Party expressed condolences for Cervantes’ passing on its Facebook page, acknowledging his commitment to serving the community and offering prayers for his family during this difficult time.