Introduction:

 

I am currently serving the Groves Police Department as the Interim City Marshal. Upon his retirement, the previous City Marshal, Norman Reynolds Jr., recommended me to the council. The Groves City Council appointed me by unanimous vote. Since then, I have not only maintained Marshal Reynold’s endorsement, but have earned the endorsement of retired City Marshals Mark Domingue, Steve Savoy, and Jeff Wilmore. All living former City Marshals endorse my campaign.

 

Personal:

I was born and raised in Nederland, Texas, and graduated from Nederland High School in 2005. I then went to McNeese State University on a football scholarship and played through 2008, earning two conference championship rings. I have been an active member of the Memorial church of Christ since my teenage years and I currently serve as a deacon there.

I worked for local businesses before paying my way through the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Academy in 2012. After completion, I was hired by the Groves Police Department in December 2012

I moved to the City of Groves in August of 2013, where I reside with my wife, son, and daughter. Both of my children were born while I served on patrol and it has been such a joy raising them here. I will always be grateful for that opportunity the City of Groves and the Police Department have afforded me.

 

Working for Groves PD:

While serving on Patrol, I also volunteered to assist with the Mercy Corps of Groves Texas, alongside Chaplain Richard Turner. I coordinated this group for several years and enjoyed working alongside these wonderful and dedicated individuals.

In 2014, with an interest in learning both association business and the process of collective bargaining agreement negotiations, I was elected Treasurer for the Groves Police Officers Association, which I maintained until being appointed Interim City Marshal.

I became a detective in 2018 where I specialized in property crimes, financial crimes, and internet investigations. I also handled several major crimes, involving aggravated assault, family violence, organized criminal activity cases, and murder.

I have served as a Public Information Officer since 2020 and have been highly effective in both informing the media and the community when necessary. Articles regarding many different cases and events, including some of my own are easy to locate.

I have attended Groves City Council meetings for multiple years in order to better understand the needs and desires of the citizens of Groves and have shown my ability to work with Council on a number of issues relating to the city as a whole, and to the safety of its citizens.

I have also assisted with each National Night Out and Blue Santa endeavor, since the beginning of the Groves Texas Police Officers Non-Profit Corporation, which I am currently Director.

 

Since Appointment as Interim:

Since becoming Interim City Marshal, I have prioritized the application process for grant funding and have successfully applied for police equipment, saving tax payers thousands of dollars.

I have re-established the Street Crimes unit within our Criminal Investigations Division and equipped it with the necessary tools to better serve our community and keep drugs off our streets.

I have worked tirelessly with the City Manager and the Department Heads of Groves in order to accurately assess and address the needs of citizens in various matters.

I have also worked hand in hand with city staff on a budget to stretch available resources as efficiently and as frugally as possible, overcoming challenges by providing insight, research and information, and establishing my ability to work toward a goal as part of a whole.

I have dedicated myself to attending meetings, advisory boards, associations and other gatherings throughout Southeast Texas pertaining to first responders, education, communications, and emergency management. This is not only to expand my knowledge and the potential resources available to us through corroboration and networking but also to reemphasize our dedication to the surrounding area and organizations throughout the region to assist in mutual aid and training, serving alongside one another whenever crisis may arise.

I have expanded our strategy in recruiting sworn officers and sponsoring cadets, learning and researching alongside other specialists in the area, in order to make the Groves Police Department a more attractive place for officers to join.

These actions I have taken magnify my vision of a department that provides the best training available (both field training and continuing education) with an emphasis on building up the quality officers we have and moving towards a department of which current and future police officers want to be a part.