Steven Zimmerman
Bio
Reporter and photojounalist. I cover the Catholic Church, police departments, and human interest.
Stories (40)
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EPPD Officer Castro: Cosplaying as a Sergeant While Serving as Officer in Charge
A correction is in order. In a previous article, I mistakenly referred to El Paso Police Department Officer Castro (badge #3308) as a sergeant. Multiple officers quickly set the record straight.
By Steven Zimmermanabout a month ago in Criminal
How Respect Is Earned, and Why Forcing It Puts Everyone in Danger
I never planned to write about what goes on inside the El Paso Police Department. Yesterday, while deleting old emails, I found one I had missed. After rereading it and speaking with multiple officers who still carry the weight of what it describes, I realized the story is too important, and too dangerous, to stay quiet.
By Steven Zimmermanabout a month ago in Criminal
El Paso Police Department
This article is not about Stephenie Han. It is about the El Paso Police Department (EPPD) and a growing perception among its officers that rules, ethics, and discipline are applied selectively — favoring some while punishing others — and that this inconsistency is crushing morale.
By Steven Zimmerman2 months ago in Criminal
El Paso Police Officers Left with Popcorn Machines While Critical Equipment Needs Go Unmet
EL PASO, Texas — In a city where police officers put their lives on the line daily, the El Paso Police Department (EPPD) is facing a growing scandal: officers’ urgent requests for modern, essential equipment are being ignored, while leadership has bizarrely prioritized installing popcorn machines at stations. The absurdity of this decision has left officers frustrated, demoralized, and questioning the department’s commitment to their safety and effectiveness.
By Steven Zimmerman5 months ago in Criminal
AI-Generated Fake Videos of Catholic Leaders Flood YouTube
A surge of AI-generated fake videos featuring prominent Catholic figures, including Pope Leo, Bishop Robert Barron, Venerable Fulton Sheen, and Father Mike Schmitz, has inundated YouTube in recent months, prompting urgent warnings from the Vatican and Catholic leaders. These fraudulent videos, which are growing more sophisticated by the week, are raising concerns about misinformation and threats to the faithful.
By Steven Zimmerman5 months ago in Writers
Seniors Targeted by Threatening Scam Calls
Updated 1750 HRS, 10 July 2025 — Verizon has responded and indicated they have disconnected the number in question: Across the country, individuals, particularly seniors, are falling victim to a surge of menacing scam calls and text messages demanding money under threats of violence. These fraudulent schemes, often originating from numbers linked to known scam activities, are leaving victims like Avi Greenburg and Hannah Abraham terrified and frustrated.
By Steven Zimmerman6 months ago in Criminal
The El Paso Police Department’s Leadership Crisis
The El Paso Police Department experiences structural decay because its leadership system produces workplace-related stress that leads to depression along with anxiety and eventually workforce violence. The organizational hierarchy that comprises Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs and Lieutenants creates a deity-like atmosphere which controls officers through symbolic authority. The department maintains a hierarchical structure that demonstrates complete dysfunction starting from the Chief's Office through Internal Affairs because the promised service to the community and justice and truth have become empty rituals. The EPPD leadership crisis demonstrates that systemic collapse occurs when top officials fail which creates negative consequences for personnel and the public.
By Steven Zimmerman7 months ago in Journal
The El Paso Police Department's Complaint System. Content Warning.
A severe problem exists within the El Paso Police Department (EPPD). The problem goes beyond officers who choose off-duty jobs over their police responsibilities. The system stands as a dysfunctional mess which maintains such deep-seated indifference and protective instincts that filing an officer complaint becomes futile. Throughout my experience as a journalist who investigates public officials I have encountered multiple institutional breakdowns but the EPPD remains uniquely incapable of handling misconduct complaints. The refusal of the EPPD to address misconduct issues proves such profound incompetence that it sets a new standard for institutional failure. The issue is not anti-police but anti-injustice and anti-negligence and anti-the absurd runaround that victims experience when they ask for accountability.
By Steven Zimmerman7 months ago in Criminal
Lieutenant Christopher Jones
The El Paso Police Department is facing a storm of controversy centered on Lieutenant Christopher Jones, a figure whose leadership—or lack thereof—has sparked outrage among officers and raised serious questions about his fitness for duty. At Southwest News Today, we’ve been inundated with evidence, from officer testimonies to documented timelines, painting a troubling portrait of a man whose antics threaten the morale and safety of the Northeast Regional Command Center. As the community demands answers, we are committed to uncovering the truth through relentless reporting, drawing from a flood of emails, phone calls, and face-to-face interviews with officers who can no longer stay silent.
By Steven Zimmerman7 months ago in Criminal
A Troubling Pattern
A Troubling Pattern: Lieutenant Jones and the El Paso Police Department’s Failure to Act In El Paso, a city celebrated for its vibrant diversity, the actions of Lieutenant Christopher Jones of the El Paso Police Department (EPPD) cast a shadow over the department’s commitment to fairness and inclusion. Jones, a veteran officer with two decades of service, has repeatedly made derogatory and discriminatory remarks that undermine the trust of the community he is sworn to serve. Despite documented incidents, the EPPD’s response has been inadequate, raising serious questions about accountability and leadership within the department.
By Steven Zimmerman7 months ago in Humans
Rising Crime in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas, long celebrated as one of the safest large cities in the United States, is grappling with a troubling uptick in crime that has residents, law enforcement, and city officials on edge. Known for its vibrant culture, strong community ties, and strategic location along the U.S.-Mexico border, El Paso has historically boasted low crime rates compared to other cities of its size. However, recent data and community sentiment indicate that the city is facing new challenges, with increases in violent crime, property crime, and gang-related activity threatening its reputation as a safe haven.
By Steven Zimmerman7 months ago in Criminal
