Close up of a UT System Police Badge, with text on the side of the image: Office of the Director of Police

Jo Ann Alvarez, UT Permian Basin - Featured Officer of the Month

Alvarez

Officer Alvarez has been in law enforcement for 4 years.  Officer Alvarez is currently the School Resource Officer at UTPB STEM Academy, which is located on the university’s campus.  Officer Alvarez is the first to enter the law enforcement filed in her family.  Officer Alvarez is also the first in her family to receive an Associate Degree from Odessa College.  After working in the medical field for several years Officer Alvarez returned to Odessa College to work as a Campus Police Officer.  Officer Alvarez was strongly involved with the students, faculty and staff within the campus and community.  Officer Alvarez wanted to create an environment for students, faculty and staff, a safe place to live, learn and play.  While working 12 hours shifts as a police officer at the college Officer Alvarez continued her education and obtained a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Tarleton State University.

Officer Alvarez wanting to further her career with advancement opportunity, she joined the University of Texas System Police at the University of Texas Permian Basin in June 2019.  While at UTPB, Officer Alvarez has obtained her Intermediate TCOLE Peace Officer License.  As a School Resource Officer, Alvarez position is unique because she works with grades kindergarten through grade eleven.  At the present time Officer Alvarez is working on introducing the Crime Stoppers program to the students at an earlier state of their educational curriculum.  Officer Alvarez is no stranger to the Crime Stoppers Program because she was instrumental in re-establishing the program when she was an officer at Odessa College.  Officer Alvarez is in the process of establishing the program with UTPB STEM Academy and her goal is to introduce the program to the UT Permian Basin.  Officer Alvarez’s passion is to educate our students in safety and awareness throughout our campus and introduce the program throughout the UT System. 

Officer Alvarez could not have accomplished her career without the support of her husband Richard who is a retired Air Force Veteran and former police officer and her son Richie. Officer Alvarez spends her time when not working, attending her son’s baseball tournaments.  Richie plays baseball for West Texas Elite, a travel/select baseball team.  Officer Alvarez plans to continue to pursue a Master’s Degree.