WORK HISTORY

Abilene Police Department
Abilene, Texas
From: 1969 to present

• Promoted to Sergeant (March, 1978)
• Promoted to Lieutenant (July, 1980)
• Promoted to Deputy Chief (January, 1990)
• Appointed Chief of Police (February, 1994)
  • Implemented Criminal Justice Education Officer Programs at both high schools and middle schools
  • Initiated Holiday Hills Program which helped to rebuild the Holiday Hills neighborhood
  • Initiated numerous programs to decrease the gang and drug problems in Abilene
  • Initiated the Supporting Neighborhoods and Parents Program which helps at-risk youth in the city
  • Opened the Child Advocacy Center which is housed in the Law Enforcement Center

EDUCATION
Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science (1976)
Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas

Eula High School, Eula, Texas
High School Diploma (1965)

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
Over 400 hours of in-house training programs above the college degree referenced above.

COMMUNITY / CIVIC ACTIVITIES

• YMCA -  Served 18 years on the Board of Directors
• BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF ABILENE - Served as President in 1984; served on Board for 15 years
• TAYLOR COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE ASSOCIATION - Founder of Association in 1980
• Member and past President of Abilene Kiwanis Club.
• Member of the Governors State-Wide Advisory Board on Homeland Security
• Current President of the Texas Police Chiefs Association

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

• Nominated by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Abilene for the 1993 J.C. PENNEY GOLDEN RULE AWARD
• Awarded LIBERTY BELL AWARD by Abilene Bar Association (1988)
• Received FRIEND OF EDUCATION AWARD from Abilene Independent School District (1987)
• Appointed by Governor Mark White to serve on the Juvenile Justice Education Project
• Received CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION AWARD from Southwest Texas State University for thirteen years as guest instructor
• Selected by Governor Mark White to be a guest speaker at his Governor's Conference on discipline in the classroom prior to HB 72
• Awarded the GOVERNOR'S RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN AWARD (May, 1984)
• Was heavily involved in writing numerous pieces of legislation which included the legislation that created the State Missing Persons Clearing House. Also recognized in National Study on Juvenile (Figg Report) as Founder of Taylor County Juvenile Justice Association and for the Reassignment Center at AISD. Both programs were cited nationally as model progressive programs in the juvenile field.
• First Responder Award is presented each September 11 to a First Responder in the area, and is titled the "Melvin Martin Award".

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