Unlike many people in law enforcement, I never thought I would become a police officer. Since high school, I immersed myself in the EMS and Fire Department side of public safety. In 2013, I joined the Office of the Dean of Students (DOS) at UT Austin as the Coordinator of Student Emergency Services and UTPD Liaison. In this position, I assisted in building relationships between the police department and DOS. I spent three years working with UTPD Austin’s Criminal Investigation Unit. I worked with officers and detectives and begun to see the dedication our officers had for our community. After much discussion with, then, Lieutenant Bonnet, I joined the 98th UTSP BPOC. While in the academy, I was working on my Ph.D. - a task I strongly recommend against doing both at the same time. In August 2018, I completed my doctorate degree with a concentration in how people, organizations, and governments respond to disasters and crises. My dissertation focused on how small colleges respond to male victims of sexual misconduct.
I grew up in Ft. Worth, TX and received my bachelor degree in Jackson, MS and master degree in Indiana, PA. I worked in higher education because I enjoyed helping students develop into hard working professionals. It was great seeing freshmen develop into graduating seniors - seeing how much they changed and developed and knowing that my colleagues and I may have had a small part in that development.
On October 6, 2002, while I was working in Albion, Michigan as a hall director, my cousin was killed in the line of duty in Ferris, TX. I believe that made me leave higher education a few years later and move full time into public safety. I joined the Philadelphia Fire Department, where I received the Heroism Award. I left the fire department and joined the United States Capitol Police as a Hazardous Materials Specialist. I was at the Capitol during the second inauguration of President Obama. After 18 years away from my family, I decided to move back to Texas.
Since I have been part of UTPD Austin, I have become an instructor for First Aid/CPR and CIT and I am part of the Crisis Negotiator Team. I will teach the MHO class and I am creating a Transgender Awareness training for next semester.
I enjoy helping people. I go to work each day hoping to make a difference - whether it is helping a person in crisis or educating officers on mental health related concerns. When I told my husband I was joining the department, he made me promise that I would always do the right thing. The goal for each day is to do the right thing so I can go home unashamed of anything I do. I am proud to work for a department and with officers that do the right thing. I never thought I would enjoy being a police officer, but, with UTPD, I am proud to say I am an officer with this department.
