Biography

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.