The Houston Independent School District Police Department has announced the winners of its second annual Police Appreciation Week Art Contest.

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For this year’s contest, students in kindergarten through second grade created art projects using a variety of law enforcement themes. Some highlighted a specific HISD campus officer, while others showcased different types of law enforcement officers or honored relatives in law enforcement.

Coming in first was an art class at Lovett Elementary School, where art teacher Rickey Polidore encouraged his elementary students to think outside of the box to create 3D artwork of a police car.

“Mr. Polidore had a vision,” HISD Police Lt. Guadalupe Jimenez said. “He explained his vision and purpose to all his first graders, and together they created an awesome piece of art resulting in first place for the HISD Police art contest.”

Second-grader Briana Garcia of Thurgood Marshall Elementary School received second place for a drawing of a campus officer, and third place was awarded to kindergartener Lazaro Reyes of DeAnda Elementary School for a drawing of a police officer protecting the community.

Winners and their classmates received a pizza party sponsored by the National Latino Peace Officers Association Greater Houston Chapter. Each class will also take a field trip this week to the Houston Police Department Police Academy, where students will be able to see officers in action, including the K-9 and motorcycle units and the Dive Team.

The winning entry from each grade level is currently on display in the front foyer at HISD Police Department headquarters.

“Without a doubt, the motivating factors were the words of inspiration that students see on a daily basis posted at the school: honesty, confidence, respect, perseverance, responsibility, courtesy, integrity, judgment, and sportsmanship,” said Jimenez.

Winners for the HISD PD Police Appreciation Art Contest:

· First Place: Mr. Rickey Polidore’s class project, Lovett Elementary School

· Second Place: Briana Garcia, Thurgood Marshall Elementary School

· Third Place: Lazaro Reyes, DeAnda Elementary School