Edinburg Names Lt. Orlando Garcia Interim Police Chief; Search Launched for Permanent Chief

Edinburg, Police, Orlando Garcia, Interim Police Chief, Jaime Ayala, Law Enforcement, Rio Grande Valley

Staff Report

Edinburg TX – The City of Edinburg tonight named Lt. Orlando Garcia as Interim Chief of Police, succeeding Chief Jaime Ayala following his retirement on Oct. 30, 2026. Garcia will officially assume leadership of the department on Oct. 31, 2026.

“Lt. Garcia’s roots in Edinburg, decades of service, and proven command experience make him the right leader for our police department during this transition. We thank Chief Ayala for his service to our community and wish him well in his retirement,” Mayor Omar Ochoa said. “Moving forward, the City Council and I have full confidence that Interim Chief Garcia will protect our city and uphold the high standards our citizens expect.”

Born and raised in Edinburg, Garcia began his career with the Edinburg Police Department in January 2001. He has more than 25 years of law enforcement, leadership and public service experience. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2009, earned his Master Peace Officer Certification in 2012 and advanced to Lieutenant in 2016. He has held command and supervisory roles in the Uniformed Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations Division, and most recently served in the department’s Internal Affairs Division under Chief Ayala. He resides in Edinburg with his wife and children.

To select a permanent chief, the city has contracted with Strategic Government Resources, a Texas-based executive search firm. The city previously used a similar competitive search when appointing Chief Ayala. The nationwide search is expected to conclude in approximately 90 days.

Source – City of Edinburg