Robledo exited retirement to serve as police chief of Pflugerville, according to a Feb. 23 city news release.
Assistant Chief Jason Smith will serve as acting chief until an interim candidate is chosen. The city of Pflugerville will engage in a national search for its next police chief.
“With the energy Chief Robledo brought to Pflugerville, when I met her I told people she reminded me of ‘pop rocks’ candy because her energy level never faltered,” Pflugerville Mayor Victor Gonzales said in the release. “Chief enhanced our community engagement and grew our police department. We wish her well.”
Under Robledo's leadership, the department established events such as Public Safety Day and Coffee with a Cop as well as held the first Café con la Policia for Spanish-speaking residents, per the release.
Alongside community engagement initiatives, Robledo helped launched the Smash the Stigma campaign, which helped promote conversations surrounding mental health and suicide awareness. The Institute of Law Enforcement Administration recognized Robledo's mental health work in 2019 alongside the Center for American and International Law.
The Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce distinguished Robledo as a 2020 recipient of the Latina Industry Leaders Award, per the release. Additional accolades include a March 2019 recognition as a Woman of Distinction by the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce and Robledo's inclusion as an executive committee member of the Interagency Sexual Assault Team in April 2019.
“Robledo came out of retirement to serve our City and helped develop the team by growing future leaders with servant hearts,” City Manager Sereniah Breland said in the release. “While our Chief is entering her next chapter of life, she has left a legacy for this department. I know we can count and rely upon PPD to continue providing an excellent level of service to our community. We thank Chief Robledo for her service to Pflugerville.”
