On August 12, the Marfa Police Department shared a post on social media introducing King Merritt as the new School Resource Officer (SRO) for the 2024-2025 school year. The post, which highlighted Merritt’s law enforcement experience and his enthusiasm for joining the department, was later deleted, raising significant concerns about transparency.
The original post stated: “The Marfa Police Department would like to introduce Officer K. Merritt to the MPD. Officer Merritt comes to us with a Masters Peace Officer license, years of law enforcement experience, and years of experience working as a School Resource Officer. Officer Merritt will be the 2024-2025 SRO for Marfa PD/MISD, and is excited to be a part of MPD. Welcome to Marfa Officer Merritt.”
David Flash, publisher of the Big Bend Times, noticed the post while waiting for a flight at Midland International Air and Space Port. Flash, in a live video, raised concerns about Merritt’s background, including allegations that Merritt had threatened him, questions about Merritt’s educational credentials listed on his campaign website, and reports that Merritt had used threatening behavior toward the county clerk in Jeff Davis County.
Merritt’s campaign website lists a degree from the University of Texas in a major not offered by the flagship campus in Austin, leading to questions about the accuracy of this claim. The use of “UT” without specifying a campus such as UT Dallas or UT El Paso implies a connection to UT Austin, which does not offer the degree Merritt claims.
Following the video and the concerns raised, the Marfa Police Department’s post was deleted. This action has led Flash and the Big Bend Times to question the department’s transparency, especially given the significance of appointing a new School Resource Officer.
Big Bend Times reached out to the Marfa Police Department, which confirmed that Merritt remains employed as the SRO for Marfa Independent School District (MISD). However, the department did not explain why the post was removed.
The deletion of the post, following the questions raised by Flash, has become a focal point in the ongoing scrutiny of Merritt’s appointment and the actions of the Marfa Police Department. The situation continues to evolve as the community seeks answers regarding the transparency and accountability of their local law enforcement.
