My Experience:
I have always been a public servant. My first notable job was working as a clerk and letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office. I learned the needs and expectations of civil service life while I was at that job. During this time, I met several Postal Inspectors and helped them with special projects. I became interested in the law enforcement side of the Post Office but in order to become a postal inspector at that time, I was told that the job required experience in the U. S. Post Office as well as experience as a police officer.
I began my career as a police officer in what was then the small town of Fredericksburg, Virginia. My first assignment was to walk a beat in the downtown area. Since I was familiar with delivering mail door to door, walking the beat was the perfect way for me to meet the people and for them to get to know me. I worked all three shifts back then so I got an opportunity to see all of the phases of community involvement. Soon, I was on regular patrol working traffic accidents, answering calls for service and the many other functions of a law enforcement officer.
After being with the police department, I went on to become a deputy sheriff in Stafford County, Virginia. The northern end of Stafford County was the Marine Corp Base at Quantico. Stafford County was a rural community and it only had two deputies per shift. We learned quickly how to take care of ourselves because our backup was twenty to thirty minutes away. While at the sheriff’s office, I decided to go back to school. I first attended the community college and I later attended Mary Washington University (Mary Washington College then) where I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. By that time, I had forgotten all about being a postal inspector.
In the spring of 1982, I had decided to get out of law enforcement and get a better paying job. My wife, Lynne (an accountant) and I decided to move and put our new degrees to work for us. We decided on Houston, Texas as we had heard it was a booming city where jobs and opportunities were plentiful. It was a wise move as I received an appointment as a teacher with HISD at the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Magnet School (HSLECJ) my subject area was of course, Law Enforcement Technology. It was a great experience and I am very thankful for the personal and professional rewards the job offered.
By the way, I got to Texas as soon as I could, much like some other Virginians named Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin. I also began instructing part-time at the University of Houston Downtown in their Peace Officer Academy. I was the night coordinator of the peace officer certification classes. I received my Texas Peace Officer Certification from the State of Texas because of my years of service and training in Virginia. I challenged and passed the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education peace officer certification exams. In January of 1985, I left HISD and went on to work for the Harris County Law Enforcement Academy (HCLEA) where I began instructing and doing background investigations for the county. At that time, I also began my course work to obtain my Master’s Degree from Sam Houston State University in Criminal Justice Management. Sheriff J. Klevenhagen was the newly elected sheriff and he decided to reopen the Harris County Sheriff’s Academy. This put an end to HCLEA and I went to work for the Sheriff’s Office.
At the Sheriff’s Office, I have served presently 23 years in many different areas. As a deputy, I have served in the Detention Bureau and the Human Resource Bureau as a background investigator and trainer. In 1988, I was promoted to sergeant, I put my Master’s Degree to work by becoming an adjunct professor with Houston Community College. After being promoted to sergeant, I was a supervisor over Detentions, Criminal Warrants, Internal Affairs and Auto Theft Task Force. In each one of those areas I continued my credentials as a trainer. I have remained with the college instructing as an adjunct professor at several of their campuses.
I have now decided to extend my career by becoming the next elected Constable of Harris County Precinct 5. I am well prepared for this position because of my experience, education, and expertise in law enforcement. I can say with assurance that I have a servant’s heart and I am a just man.
