Three veteran sergeants from the HISD Police Department have been promoted to the new rank of captain, HISD Police Chief Paul Cordova announced on Thursday.
The three are Capt. Richard Morris, Capt. Artina Walker, and Capt. Robert Barbosa, and they will report to Asst. Police Chief Lucretia Rogers. Their promotions take effect on Monday, July 16.
“Each of these officers is a proven leader with a unique skill set and dedicated to our mission of strengthening our relationship with the community as we work to keep our schools and students safe,” Cordova said. “They work well together, and I’m excited to have them on the police department leadership team.”
Morris began his career with HISD Police in 1988 as a campus officer at Hogg Middle School. He has experience in several areas including campus operations, the gang suppression unit, patrol operations, special response team, criminal investigations, and internal affairs.
He will head up the department’s support services, which includes emergency dispatch, criminal investigations, the gang suppression unit, crime analysis, training, accreditations and special projects, property and evidence, central business office operations, and technology.
Walker began her career with HISD Police in 1999 as a campus officer at Wheatley High School. Walker has experience in campus operations, patrol operations, support services, criminal investigations, and the gang suppression unit. Throughout her career, she has worked with elementary schools and has conducted student and community trainings on topics such as school bullying, stranger danger, railroad safety, proper and improper touching, and drug and gang awareness. She also has worked with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
She will oversee all police officers assigned to HISD campuses and will be over the community outreach office and the new north police department annex substation.
Barbosa began his career with HISD in 1986 as a computer operator in the technology department. After making a career change to law enforcement, Barbosa was assigned to Burbank Middle School as a campus officer. He has since worked in the campus and patrols areas of the department. Barbosa has served as a field training officer and worked in both the Traffic Enforcement Unit and in Community Relations.
He will be responsible for patrol operations, which includes patrol of all school campuses and other facilities, the K-9 unit, the Safe Schools office, the emergency response team, crossing guards, and fleet operations.
All three hold master peace officer certifications and have been certified as police instructors by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Morris and Barbosa also are members of the HISD PD honor guard and certified as special investigators, and Barbosa holds an additional certification as a mental health officer.
Walker previously served as naval intelligence specialist with the U.S. Navy Reserves, a Texas Department of Criminal Justice corrections officer and a pre-sentence investigator with the Harris County Probation Department.