What a wonderful career. It started for me in December of 1981. When I was 18years old, I worked at the old Park Place Sub-Station as a Community Service Officer. I helped book prisoners and make accident reports. I began to meet many of my first friends handing out their radios as they went on patrol.
When I turned 19 years old I started the HPD Police Academy (Class 107) in August of 1982. I graduated and hit the streets (at Park Place Sub-Station) as a rookie police officer. I stayed at Southeast for a few years and then transferred to the Clear Lake sub-station.
What a ride! I have saved lives, been shot, stabbed, attacked by a pit-bull, involved in major car accidents, car chases, foot chases, plane crashes and worked undercover, The list goes on and on. It really is hard to remember everything I did as a patrol officer because it was simply so much. I remember running 15-20 calls a day, in some cases not even having time to grab a lunch. I made every call you can think of.
Working at HPD was as they say, “A front row seat to the greatest show on earth.” The things I have seen and experienced, sad and happy, I hope to never forget.
In 1994, I went to recruiting. This is really where my passion for this job as a police officer began to show towards others. I loved my job so much, that I desperately wanted to show others their potential and the rewards that come with joining an organization like the Houston Police Department.
Recruiting was amazing. I had the opportunity to travel the United States and visit not just the biggest cities, but the rural ones as well. I even went to Puerto Rico one time to look at potential police recruits.
My supervisors not only allowed me to use my skills in advertising, promotions, video and photography, but they also allowed me to reach out to applicants via the World Wide Web. I started the HPD blog in 2007 which became so successful it lead to my current assignment.
In 2008, I came to Public Affairs to start the social media campaign. The last few years have been quite intense and ever-changing. The rewards were just as intense. To see the success coming from this campaign has given me a great deal of satisfaction. I was flown to Chicago by the IACP (International Association of Chiefs of Police) to teach others about the use of social media. My HPD Blog was regarded as one of the best in the country and it received the police “Blog of the Year” in 2012.
I was humbled by receiving accolades from my peers and being nominated for Senior Police Officer of the Year in 2008 and actually receiving the award the following year for Senior Police Officer of the Year in 2009.
The civilians and officers that work with me in Public Affairs are beyond reproach. What a blessing it is to end my career with HPD after thirty-one plus years and be able to experience such caring co-workers and supervisors on the way out. To see the civilian staff and classified work hand-in-hand is amazing to see. I think if you looked up the definition of “team work” it would mention everyone here by name. I contribute the social media success within HPD directly to my hard working co-workers and extraordinary supervisors.
This is my family, my HPD family. I will miss this more than you know. I have worked here my whole adult life. I know nothing else other than this family. Am I nervous? Yes, I am extremely nervous. Is this the right decision? I can never know unless I close this chapter in my life and open a new chapter.
I live in very small, quaint town forty miles from downtown. I love living there and I love the community and the townspeople. I have an opportunity to continue serving in this town. To not only serve the people, but to protect my neighbors. I will continue to stay in law enforcement but it will be in my own backyard. It may have its challenges at first, but it also has unlimited opportunities for me to bring my resources, knowledge and experience to my new home town. This is an opportunity to not only grow alongside the community, but also an opportunity for my career path to grow as well.
Thirty-one years with HPD! I have never regretted one decision or one direction during my career. I will always have a special place in my heart for HPD. I may regret leaving my HPD family but this affords me the opportunity to be with my personal family even more. As I get older and see my older relatives slowly fade away as a memory, I know what is important to me right now.
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your commitment to work, your ethics, and your camaraderie throughout these years. You have each influenced me in one way or another, either by advice, direction or by simply providing me an opportunity to shine and create. My heart is aching and excited at the same time.
I am honored and privileged to have known you and worked with you.
Senior Officer Mike McCoy
(HPD Recruiting Blog Administrator)
To every applicant that I have had the pleasure of working with throughout the recruiting process and speaking to through email on this blog, thank you. Many of you are already part of this HPD family and many of you are still going through the process. Don’t give up and stay strong.
As always, thank you for your wonderful support of this blog.
I was humbled by receiving accolades from my peers and being nominated for Senior Police Officer of the Year in 2008 and actually receiving the award the following year for Senior Police Officer of the Year in 2009.
The civilians and officers that work with me in Public Affairs are beyond reproach. What a blessing it is to end my career with HPD after thirty-one plus years and be able to experience such caring co-workers and supervisors on the way out. To see the civilian staff and classified work hand-in-hand is amazing to see. I think if you looked up the definition of “team work” it would mention everyone here by name. I contribute the social media success within HPD directly to my hard working co-workers and extraordinary supervisors.
This is my family, my HPD family. I will miss this more than you know. I have worked here my whole adult life. I know nothing else other than this family. Am I nervous? Yes, I am extremely nervous. Is this the right decision? I can never know unless I close this chapter in my life and open a new chapter.
I live in very small, quaint town forty miles from downtown. I love living there and I love the community and the townspeople. I have an opportunity to continue serving in this town. To not only serve the people, but to protect my neighbors. I will continue to stay in law enforcement but it will be in my own backyard. It may have its challenges at first, but it also has unlimited opportunities for me to bring my resources, knowledge and experience to my new home town. This is an opportunity to not only grow alongside the community, but also an opportunity for my career path to grow as well.
Thirty-one years with HPD! I have never regretted one decision or one direction during my career. I will always have a special place in my heart for HPD. I may regret leaving my HPD family but this affords me the opportunity to be with my personal family even more. As I get older and see my older relatives slowly fade away as a memory, I know what is important to me right now.
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your commitment to work, your ethics, and your camaraderie throughout these years. You have each influenced me in one way or another, either by advice, direction or by simply providing me an opportunity to shine and create. My heart is aching and excited at the same time.
I am honored and privileged to have known you and worked with you.
Senior Officer Mike McCoy
(HPD Recruiting Blog Administrator)
To every applicant that I have had the pleasure of working with throughout the recruiting process and speaking to through email on this blog, thank you. Many of you are already part of this HPD family and many of you are still going through the process. Don’t give up and stay strong.
As always, thank you for your wonderful support of this blog.
This career takes a special person who is compassionate, caring and brave. With this comes a remarkable career that you will never forget and will be able to tell your grand-kids about one day.
(The blog will continue in the future, but posts may be delayed a short period of time while training of the new officer commences. If you have questions please do not hesitate to call Recruiting at 713-308-1300.)
(The blog will continue in the future, but posts may be delayed a short period of time while training of the new officer commences. If you have questions please do not hesitate to call Recruiting at 713-308-1300.)
