Officers of the Month

My name is Grace Coleman. I am the Assistant Chief at the University of Texas at Tyler Police Department. My law enforcement career began at UT Tyler Police Department under Chief Mike Medders. In 2009, I was hired on as a Guard. I left the department in 2011 to work for the City of Longview Police Department, where I stayed until 2019. At the Longview Police Department, I gained an immeasurable amount of experience, knowledge, and wisdom.

My name is Adam Perry and I have the distinction of serving as the University of Texas at Dallas’s newest Lieutenant over the Criminal Investigative Division.  In February 2020, I closed a chapter of my life after retiring from the Richardson, TX Police Department and two weeks later opened a new chapter of my life at UTD.

My name is John Gonzalez and I have been with the UTMB Police Department for 10 years. I started as a Guard in March of 2010 and a short time later was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to attend the 92nd UT System BPOC, which concluded in December of 2011.

Now in her 28th year of law enforcement, Michelle is honored to have served the citizens of Arlington Texas through both municipal policing with the Arlington Police Department and now campus policing at the University of Texas at Arlington Police Department.

My story is different than most. I don't come from a law enforcement background.  I am the first officer in my family. I can't pinpoint exactly where my desire came from, but it was solidified as a teenager after one ride along with an officer from our local police department. 

Corporal Somer Fernandez was born and raised in Wichita Falls, TX. Before graduating high school her family moved to Del Rio, TX where her Step-father was stationed as a Border Patrol Agent. After a year in Del Rio, Fernandez returned to Wichita Falls to finish out her senior year of high school.

My journey into Law Enforcement was a journey for sure! I will break it down a bit for the reader. My interest in civil service started at the very early age of 6, when I used to assist my father in making cookies for the prisoners he would preach to during his prison ministry visits to the Jester Units in Richmond, TX. I learned the value of empathy, volunteering, selflessness.

Born and raised in Texas with many family members (from grandfather, parents and siblings) graduating from the University of Texas system, Aaron Speer’s affections for UT run deep.   

I was born and raised in Batavia, NY.  After high school, I attended Genesee Community College where I majored in Criminal Justice.  I was also Captain of the baseball team, both my freshman and sophomore years and was an Academic All American.  After completing an internship with the State University of New York at Brockport Police Department, I knew that Law Enforcement was my calling.