At the start of its Dec. 12 meeting Socorro’s City Council recognized community achievements and approved personnel and public-safety items.

Council presented certificates and pins to members of the University of Texas at El Paso volleyball team for their NCAA tournament appearance. Council also presented a life-saving award to Blanca Garcia of Escondria STEAM Academy after staff recounted that Garcia performed emergency measures that saved a child who was choking; the principal, Irma Ojeda, and family members thanked Garcia.

On personnel and police matters, HR Director Carol Candelaria outlined updated job descriptions and salary scales for multiple police positions; council approved the updates. Council also approved a grant-funded civilian accreditation-manager job description, a two-year position that Chief Robert Rojas said will centralize accreditation and compliance work so sworn officers can focus on patrol duties. "This person's gonna be more focused on the black and white of the policy and making sure ... we are in compliance," the chief said.

In procurement, the council approved purchase of Level 3+ rifle-threat ballistic shields from RTS Tactical in the amount of $32,207.53, funded by a grant; the chief said the grant pays for shields for the number of officers listed in the grant application (47 at the time of application).