April 21st, 2015
Harris County Sheriff’s Academy
Symposium Agenda 7:45 a.m.-8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m.-8:05 a.m. 8:05 a.m.-8:15 a.m. 8:25 a.m.-9:00 a.m. 9:10 a.m.-11:10 a.m.
Breakfast Singing of the National Anthem by HCSO Honor Guard member Ms. Uneeda Harris Introduction-HCSO Major Debra Schmidt Keynote address-Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson Panel Discussion-Symposium Survey
Panel Participants: Dinah Massie of Transtar Chief Vera Bumpers Jeannette Rash Sergeant Cindy Vara-Leija Assistant Chief Laurie Christensen HCSO Sergeant Lenora Faye Cope-Inocencio HCSO Major Penny Crianza HCSO Major Sheila Jones HCSO Captain Virginia Russell
11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. 1:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Moderator-Public Information Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority Police Dept. Owner of Fast Tow Safe Management Group Harris County Constable Pct. 2 Harris County Fire Marshal Personnel Concerns Unit Systems Intelligence Justice Housing Criminal Warrants Division
Lunch Motivational Guest Speaker Ms. Jennifer Herring of HCSO Re-Entry Services Developing Leadership Skills Arquella Hargrove, HR Leader, Leadership Coach, Mediator & Trainer Mentoring & Coaching Arquella Hargrove, HR Leader, Leadership Coach, Mediator & Trainer
Break
3:50 p.m.-4:15p.m. 4:20 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks from Sheriff Adrian Garcia Award presentation for Trailblazer Presentation of Honorable Mention Certificates
Devon Anderson
Harris County District Attorney Governor Rick Perry appointed Devon Anderson Harris County District Attorney on September 26th 2013. She succeeds her late husband, Mike Anderson. She is uniquely qualified to lead the office forward, establishing it as the flagship prosecutor’s office in America. D e v o n Anderson has a long history of fighting for justice. She was a prosecutor for 12 years at the Houston DA’s office trying some of the worst criminals including, the “Railroad Killer,” Angel Maturino Resendiz. Devon rose through the ranks of the office prosecuting offenses at every level. She was a Chief Felony prosecutor for 5 years and tried over 100 felony jury trials including 7 capital murders. In 2005, Devon left the Harris County District Attorney’s Office after being elected to serve as State District Judge in the 177th Criminal District Court. While serving as District Judge, Devon presided over an average of fifty jury trials a year involving all levels of felony offenses including capital murder, murder, child abuse, kidnapping, arson, and drug and property crimes. She supervised hundreds of probationers and monitored their compliance with conditions of their probation to ensure community safety and promote rehabilitation. Devon volunteered to supervise a special docket of non-violent offenders who struggled with substance abuse addictions. A poll conducted by the Houston Bar Association in 2007 ranked Judge Anderson second among local criminal district judges. In 2009 Devon left the bench and started her own criminal defense firm. Her firm’s focus was on the representation of citizens accused of state and federal criminal offenses. Devon was appointed Special Prosecutor by Walker County District Judge Kenneth Keeling. In November 2012, Devon left her practice when her husband was elected Harris County District Attorney. Devon earned her undergraduate and law degree from The University of Texas. She is a graduate of the Career Prosecutors Course at the National College of District Attorneys. After she completed the course, the National College invited her back as a faculty adviser and trial advocacy instructor. She has also taught continuing legal education classes for the State Bar of Texas and the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. Devon has been the recipient of several prestigious awards for her work in 2014 including: • 2014 Premier Women in Law, Association of Women Attorneys • 2014 Policy Setter Award, MADD • 2014 Early Leader Award, Waco ISD Advanced Academic Services Active in the community, Devon has served as President of the Board of Directors for the Harris County Drug Court Foundation and was a member of the San Jacinto Republican Women and volunteer for the Bellaire Girls Softball Association. Now Devon looks to finish what her husband started at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. She will work tirelessly to restore honor and integrity to a place that has a storied past of being the best prosecutor’s office in the country. Devon grew up in Waco, Texas. She now lives in Bellaire with her 13-year-old son, Sam and 11-year-old daughter, Brynn. They are members of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.
Dinah Massie
Public Information Officer Dinah Massie is the Public Information Officer for Houston TranStar, and she has served in that position for nine years. In this capacity, she responds to media inquiries, supervises creative output such as PSAs and brochures, coordinates special events, talks to elected officials and pretty much does whatever she’s told to do. She loves her job. Before her current job, Dinah held positions in the Harris Health System, the Greater Houston Partnership, County Judge Robert Eckels’ office and the Texas Legislature, to name a few. She gets around. She holds a bachelor and master’s degrees from Texas State University in San Marcos. She has two sons, one cat and too many dogs.
Arquella Hargrove Master Coach
Arquella Hargrove is an author, certified master coach, consultant, facilitator with an extensive background in Human Resources Management. Arquella is known as the “People Link” and passionate about helping women and organization leaders find the missing link in their communication, leadership skills and productivity, in order to impact business objectives. She works with for-profit, non-profit, government agencies, and school systems where she has implemented communication, human resources and leadership development initiatives aligning with strategic goals. Arquella regularly develops and facilitates workshops at all levels, including: behavioral/personality assessment tools, generational diversity, keys to communication success, team building, visionary leadership, to name a few. Arquella serves on a number of non-profit boards of directors and committees. In addition, Arquella holds a MBA and numerous certifications (Professional in HR, DDI/Franklin Covey Facilitator, Master Coach, Mediator, Birkman/DISC/ MBTI/Personalysis Assessment tools). Arquella is married with two children.
Vera Bumpers Chief
Chief Vera Bumpers is a 32 year veteran of the METRO Police Department and a native of San Antonio, Texas. Chief Bumpers received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas State University and a Master’s Degree from Prairie View A&M University. She is a graduate of the 230th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Chief Bumpers was the first female in every rank at METRO Police Department and has served in a supervisory capacity for over 25 years. While rising up the ranks, she had leadership responsibility for various units from Patrol to Homeland Security. She was sworn in as Chief of Police on November 13, 2014. Chief Bumpers is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Texas Police Chiefs Association, Houston Area Police Chiefs Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Links Incorporated, NAACP and the chair of HCC Police Academy Advisory Board. Chief Bumpers is married to Rodney Pentecost and has two children, one grandchild. She is an active member of New Light Christian Center Church.
Jeanette Rash Businesswoman
Jeanette Rash started her long career in 1966 when she married Charles Rash whose family was in the towing business and graduated from Aldine High School. Her business is operated as a family-owned business. Her three sons, Charley, Russell and Frankie Rash handle the day to day operations of the companies. The companies grew from a one tow truck and storage lot operation and now Jeanette has 47 employees. Fast Tow moved from Milam Street to its present location at 2305 Lyons Avenue over 20 years ago. The companies concentrate on the Central Business District of the City. Fast Tow is a 24/7 operation that moves and stores vehicles including the SAFEclear program which is a congestion management program that is important for traffic congestion relief. Jeanette is very active within the towing industry and has written the legislation that has been introduced and passed in Austin by the Texas Legislature since 1980 involving all towing and vehicle storage issues. She also has worked with Federal Highway to insure the proper training for tow operators both here in Texas and throughout the United States. She is working with Texas A & M, TEEK to insure that tow operators have the opportunity to train with law enforcement and fire departments across Texas under the SHRP2 training program. She is the Vice Chairman of the Greater Northside Management District; Government Affairs Chair for Texas Towing & Storage Association; Houston Galveston Area Emissions Reduction Credit Organization – Small business representative; Urban Business Representative for the Towing, Storage, Booting Advisory Board- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations; Incident Management Team – Houston Transtar; Women Professionals in Government member and many other organizations. Jeanette has four children and nine grandchildren with number 10 on the way. She has her first great-granddaughter on the way as well. She is an active member of New Life Baptist Church and is in charge of the kitchen for all functions.
Cindy Vara-Leija Sergeant
Following in her family’s long history of community service and leadership, Cindy Vara-Leija has spent most of her life dedicated to some form of public service. A native Houstonian who has been a law enforcement professional since graduating from the Harris County Sheriff’s Academy in 1 9 7 8 , she retired after 35 years of dedicated service to the residents of Harris County from the Precinct 1 Constable’s Office in October 2011 with the distinction of being the first Latina to hold the rank of Captain in that department. Her 32 years with Precinct 1 allowed Cindy the opportunity to learn the inner workings of the department from the ground up. Starting with her role as a deputy in the Mental Health Warrants Division, Cindy served Precinct 1 as a grand jury bailiff, a criminal warrants deputy, a juvenile warrants deputy, and a civil process deputy before holding the supervisory position of sergeant in the Mental Health Warrants Division. Prior to retirement, she rose to the rank of Captain in which her duties included being in charge of security for Harris County’s Courthouse Complex, Medical Examiner’s Office, and libraries. She also oversaw Precinct 1’s K-9 units, bike patrols, grand jury bailiffs, and communications and training programs. During her tenure as Captain, Cindy co-founded the Harris County Court House Security Committee, which addressed safety and security issues in the various Harris County courthouses in downtown Houston, and she implemented the Precinct 1 Employee Service Appreciation Reception as an expression of appreciation for her fellow deputies. Her devotion to public service has led her to return to law enforcement with the Precinct 2 Constable’s office, where she was immediately appointed as Sergeant by Constable Chris Diaz. In this capacity, she utilizes her expertise in handling matters which pertain to mental health, public relations and management. She is also charged with the responsibility of vetting all reserve applicants and making recommendations to the Constable on an array of issues. Sgt. Leija has been instrumental in implementing the Citizens Patrol Academy for the office, which is highly regarded by the citizens of the precinct. Cindy is a past president of the International Police Officer Association for Region 36, she is a graduate of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. She is involved in the Incarnate Word Alumni Association, Texas Women in Law Enforcement, and Hispanic Women in Leadership, where she received Outstanding Woman of the Year recognition. Cindy and her husband, John, currently reside in the Northside area. They are parents to Carli, Michael, and Steve, as well as proud grandparents to Isabella Grace and Grayson Garcia and Alyssa Mia Leija.
Laurie L. Christensen
Assistant Chief, HC Fire Marshall Laurie Christensen is the Assistant Chief, Operations Support for the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, the third-most populous county in the U.S. Assistant Chief Christensen is a graduate of University of Houston Downtown and Sam Houston State University, with degrees in Criminal Justice and Criminal Justice Leadership and Management. She is an accredited Fire Marshal and holds a Master Peace Officer License from Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and Master Firefighter Certifications from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. She is a retired member of the Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department with over 25 years’ experience in emergency response, including 10 years as a Chief Officer. She had the distinction of serving as Logistics Section Chief during the Hurricane Katrina Shelter Operation at the Reliant Center Complex. Her efforts supported the needs of more than 25,000 residents of “Reliant City” who were forced to evacuate the hurricane’s devastation. In 2008 during Hurricane Ike she held the position of Operations Section Chief and was a member of the team which developed the first inner city point of distribution “POD” system for residents affected by the third costliest storm in the United States. She has received recognition for her work including arson, fire and life safety programs, wildfire response, freeze events, and tropical storms. Laurie is, a published author, guest editor and guest speaker, she serves on many committees for law enforcement and fire services. Current assignments include 1st Vice President Texas Fire Marshal’s Association, Vice President of Houston Area Police Chiefs Association, and serves on committees for Texas Police Chiefs Association, International Association of Police Chiefs, Texas Fire Marshal’s Association, and National Fire Protection Association. She can be reached by phone at 281-436-8021 or by e-mail at llc@hctx.net
Lenora Faye Cope-Inocencio Sergeant
Lenora is currently a sergeant with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. She began her career with the Sheriff’s Office in June of 1991, as a detention officer. In December of 1993 she became a certified deputy, and worked in detentions before being transferred to the Executive Bureau where she worked for Chief “Red” McKaskle. In March of 2000, Lenora became an investigator assigned to the Criminal Investigations Bureau where she remained for twelve years. While there, she was assigned to the Internal Affairs Division, the Pawn Shop Division, the Financial Crimes Division, and the Assault Division. In June of 2012, Lenora promoted to the rank of sergeant and was transferred to the Criminal Justice Bureau. In October of this same year, former Chief Tello presented Lenora with an opportunity to transfer to the Executive Bureau and implement and supervise a new unit within the department. That unit is now known as the Personnel Concerns Unit (Program). The Program addresses problematic employee behaviors and Lenora is passionate about assisting employees with retraining so they may establish a long term relationship with the Sheriff’s Office. In the last 2 ½ years Lenora has streamlined and structured the unit into an efficient and operational component of the department. Lenora holds a certified Police Instructor license and is working on her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of HoustonDowntown. She will also become a National Certified Yoga Instructor in June of this year. Lenora’s love for Yoga has inspired her to develop the Sheriff’s Office first ever Yoga class, which she began teaching in March of this year and received enthusiastic support from her students. When off duty, Lenora can be found curled up with her poodle (Layla) while reading a good book, writing poetry, hosting elegant dinner parties, running or practicing Yoga. She enjoys spending time with the two loves of her life: her husband Joel of 26 years, who is a captain with the Sheriff’s Office and her son Josh, who is 24 years old and a student at Florida State University.
Penny Crianza Major
Major Crianza has been serving the Harris County Sheriff’s Office since 1993 and has promoted through various ranks including Clerk, Detention Officer, Peace Officer. She then took one of the first Technology positions as a Systems Analyst and later became a System Administrator, then Director of Information Management. During her 23 years she has sat on various Technology Committees and Sub– Committees within the Harris County Justice community. She attended the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Academy in July of 1997, graduated and became a full time Deputy. Penny was promoted to a civilian position as a Systems Analyst in 2001, but retained her Commission in the Harris County Reserves until Sheriff Garcia’s May 2013 announcement that she was being appointed to the rank of Major; her appointment marked only the fifth time since 1837 that a female was appointed to the third highest rank in the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Major Crianza was assigned to command the Systems Intelligence and Strategic Analysis Bureau where she was tasked with pursuing technology that will enhance officer and public safety with predictive policing and crime analysis in the largest Sheriff’s Office in Texas and the 3rd largest in the country. Major Crianza brings a vision is to assist the Sheriff’s Office in implementing new technologies and data collection that will lead to analytic based, intelligent-policing. In doing so, the Sheriff’s Office will dynamically advance towards engaging citizens as well as enhancing Officer and Public Safety. It is her mission to ensure the Harris County Sheriff’s Office leads Law Enforcement Agencies into the 21st Century. Some of the big projects that her Command has be challenged with are the new Real Time Crime Center scheduled to go-live in April 2015, a new Jail Management System, and assisting in the Joint Jail Processing facility; the two projects are co-dependent on each other for success, with both coming on line only 6 months apart.
Sheila C. Jones Major
Sheila C. Jones grew up on the South side of Houston where she graduated from Evan E. Worthing Senior High School. Upon graduation, she honorably served our country in the United States Army from 1984 until 1988. While enlisted in the Army, Sheila received two (2) Army Achievement Medals, the first in 1985 and was honored with the second medal in 1987. Sheila began her career with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office as a Civilian Jailer in August of 1989 at the 1301 Central Jail Facility. She attended the Basic Peace Officer’s class of B-2 90 at the Harris County Sheriff’s Academy and graduated in June of 1990. As a Deputy, Sheila returned to duty at the Central Jail and was quickly transferred to Harris County’s Boot Camp Facility and worked as a Drill Instructor where she remained for three years. In 1995, she was assigned to the Classification division and excelled there for another four years. By January of 1999, Sheila was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and fulfilled a multitude of assignments, including a supervisor at the 701 Detention Facility, Inmate Processing Center, Central Records and the Transportation Division of the Public Services Bureau. In 2005, Sheila was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and spent the next four years in various assignments in the Detention Command such as Watch Commander of the Inmate Processing Center and the 701 Detentions Facility and Commander of the Classification Division. In 2009, Sheila transferred to the Executive Bureau and was assigned to the newly formed Employee Representative Council (ERC). In this position, Sheila proved to be instrumental in implementing Sheriff Adrian Garcia’s vision for the ERC in recognizing the value of constructive employee input. While in this assignment, she also coordinated dignitary protection details, security operations and management plans for the 2011 Sheriff’s Association of Texas Annual Conference hosted by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. From ERC, Sheila spent the next two years in the Patrol Bureau assigned to Districts III and V; learning all aspects of Patrol with ease and most importantly, absorbing and applying the knowledge and training obtained to all aspects of her law enforcement career. On May 8, 2013, Sheila was appointed to the rank of Major and assigned to the Criminal Justice Command as the commander of the Justice Housing Bureau. As the commander of the nation’s third largest detention facility, Sheila oversees approximately 1,400 staff members and close to 10,000 inmates, spanning three (3) detention facilities consisting of inmate housing and building operations. Spanning Sheila’s twenty-five (25) years of law enforcement experience serving the citizens of Harris County, Sheila has been fully committed to and has embraced extensive training in furtherance of her career. Among her many accomplishments, she is a Graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy and the Senior Management Institute of Policing, she holds a Master Peace Officer Certificate and is a Certified TCLEOSE Instructor. Recently, Sheila obtained her Certified Jail Managers Certificate from the American Jail Association. Sheila is a recipient of the Excellence in Law Enforcement Award presented to her in 1999 and again in 2009. In her spare time, Sheila enjoys spending quality time with her two handsome sons; 26 year-old Brian, a newly promoted Deputy with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and 16 year-old Warren. Raised a Christian, Sheila and her boys are active members of the Fountain of Praise Church. Fully appreciative of her position within the Sheriff’s Office and of her life, Sheila is extremely thankful for her family, friends, and those who have been instrumental in her career.
Virginia Cavazos-Russell Captain
Captain Virginia Cavazos-Russell began her career with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in November 1990. She was first assigned to the Detention Bureau and worked at 1301 Franklin Street jail. She soon transferred to Support Services and worked in the Classification section before being transferred to Central Patrol in 1992 as a Crime Prevention Specialist and DARE Instructor. In 1996, Deputy Russell transferred to the Motorist Assistance Program (MAP) where she worked until promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2000. Sergeant Russell’s first supervisory assignment was at the Inmate Processing Center and followed by the Transportation Division. Sergeant Russell promoted to the rank of lieutenant in February 2005 and was assigned to Central Records for three years before transferring to the Detention Bureau in 2008. In 2009 Lieutenant Russell took over duties in the Inmate Disciplinary and Grievance section. Upon her promotion to the rank of captain in 2011, Captain Russell assumed command over the 701 and 1307 jails. Captain Russell was then transferred to oversee all Court Division operations in 2012 until assuming command over the Criminal Warrants Division in 2013. Captain Russell is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas and attended the University of Houston where she completed her Basic Peace Officer Certification training. She has obtained Crime Prevention Specialist and DARE Instructor certifications and received Senior Level Corrections and Executive Leadership training. Captain Cavazos-Russell is a certified Spanish speaker as well. Captain Cavazos-Russell is married to retired Houston Police Officer Ben W. Russell III and they have four grown children and seven grandchildren. Her daughter is Houston Police Officer Carrie Cunningham, currently assigned to Adult Sex Crimes, and her stepson, HCSO Sergeant Ben W. Russell IV, is assigned to the Inmate Processing Center. Captain CavazosRussell enjoys cooking, reading and traveling with her family.
Jennifer Noelle Herring
HCSO Director of Reentry Services George Hunter, a jazz musician and middle school teacher and Linda Vann met in grade school in the mid-1960s on the south-side of Chicago. They married and the first child born from this union was Jennifer Noelle. Her father decided to relocate his family to Houston, Texas in 1980. She attended Debakey High School for the Health Professions and enrolled in Texas Southern University with an undecided major. After getting married and starting a family, she postponed her education and joined the corporate sector to pursue a career in sales. Unfulfilled and incomplete in her education, In 2003 she completed her bachelors from Texas Southern University, master’s degree from the University of Houston and licensing in social work in five years. Always drawn to crisis intervention, she managed a program for women and children on welfare; provided case management services to severe and persistent mentally ill wards of the county through Harris County’s Guardianship Program; provided crisis intervention and therapeutic services to children and adolescents in the North Forest Independent School District; worked as psych response team member for West Oaks Psychiatric Hospital’s Mobile Assessment Team; established a private practice facilitating life-skills (anger management/conflict resolution, behavior management, personal development, self-care/self-esteem, parenting, gang prevention and intervention) for children and adolescents with behavioral issues through the courts of the Justice of the Peace; created and directed a behavior modification boot camp for children and adolescents with severe criminal histories; she provides training and development to schools, agencies and organizations, teaching on topics such as Ethics, Dealing with Difficult People, Compassion Fatigue/Secondary Trauma, and Self-Care Practices; she was invited to become a part of the faculty at Texas Southern University and served as field liaison and visiting instructor for 8 years; most currently she serves as Director of Reentry Services for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office where she has created programs for human sex trafficking and prostitution, pregnant women, veterans, and substance abuse.
MISSION STATEMENT “To encourage and foster the recruitment, retention and promotion of well qualified female professionals by cultivating understanding of the unique role of women in law enforcement through development and recognition”.
OBJECTIVES “The symposium will be aimed to garner support and assemble resources in order to achieve gender equity throughout Law Enforcement. It will also be guided towards identifying and discussing a whole host of issues frequently faced by our female counterparts in LE agencies today. Several planned discussions will center on providing an outlet for the development of useful coping strategies, foster creativity and create a sense of support for our female colleagues.”
1200 Baker Street, Houston, Texas 77002 www.harriscountyso.org