An HPD patrol officer busted a man allegedly buying and selling crack in southeast Houston over the weekend.  But the arrest was anything but routine: The suspect was an HPD cadet.

The incident occurred in an area called the “Lost Ward,” located off Scott and Nagle.

And what’s more, suspect and cadet Rene Jallardo Fuentes told police he’d been smoking crack all weekend with at least two other cadets from the department.

Those cadets were located and immediately tested for drugs, but the results have not been released. Fuentes has been charged with possession of a controlled substance.

It’s no secret that HPD needs police officers.  High-ranking personnel with the department say they’re about 1,000 short.

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Rene Fuentes

The recruiting division has been working tirelessly to get people signed up.  It’s a high priority – a new class of 70 cadets started Monday, in fact.

There are at lest five classes planned for 2008.  That could grow to seven if enough recruits commit.

But many people that work for the department have expressed concern about some of the folks who’ve signed up to be cops lately.

Some say HPD doesn’t pay enough or offer the benefits for new recruits they used to. 

In other words, they believe the cream of the crop is heading to other departments.