In the early 1970’s, Latino Peace Officers John Parraz, of the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office and Vicente Calderon, of the California Highway Patrol, had a vision. They used their personal time and money to organize what became known as the Latino Peace Officer’s Association (LPOA). After gathering more support they drew up a constitution and in 1974 NLPOA was chartered as a fully recognized non-profit organization. The first chapter was the Santa Clara County Chapter, with a mere forty members. This was to be the nucleus for the following chapters, which are now existing to serve their communities.
NLPOA Today…
Today the NLPOA is considered to the largest and fastest growing Latino Law Enforcement organization in the country. NLPOA continues to grow and seeks out supporters, who wish to make the law enforcement community a balanced and responsible entity to the community and looks to contribute to policy development in the Criminal Justice System.
NLPOA and Harris County…
NLPOA is the largest National Latino Law Enforcement association in the United States and we have made in-roads in the mid-west region of the country. The Southeast Harris County Chapter was chartered in the fall of 1996.
Southeast Harris County Chapter is administered by an executive board, which consists of elected officers and a president. The executive board is responsible for implementing the goals of the NLPOA. This chapter reports its activities to the National NLPOA, which holds regular conferences across the country. NLPOA is actively involved in almost every aspect of the Criminal Justice System, and is not limited to law enforcement. By being actively involved, NLPOA seeks to support its membership and the community. We are able to do this by being involved in three key areas: Our legislature. Our jobs. Our community.
Several officers from the Pasadena Police Department founded the Southeast Harris County Chapter in 1996 after realizing what NLPOA had to offer because of its multi-agency structure and community focus, and also being part of a national organization. As a part of its structure the Southeast Harris County Chapter has started a Scholarship fund and is committed to raising funds to assist the community in food and toy drives, and to help those less fortunate. In addition, the chapter is committed to addressing the need for Hispanic representation in Southeast Harris County’s community, and the other surrounding agencies.
Most importantly, the chapter is focused on preparing our membership to be ready for leadership opportunities that may develop within the law enforcement community! We accomplish this by helping our membership obtain access to training that may not otherwise be available to them. Also, the chapter looks to developing the same opportunities for Associate membership.
Finally, our chapter welcomes membership from all interested and supportive individuals that
would like to get involved in Southeast Harris County’s most dynamic Hispanic law enforcement organization. We are a 501 ( c ) ( 3) non-profit organization!
Our Philosophy regarding youth and education has reinforced the important contributions that our cultural diversity provides this great nation. The National Latino Peace Officers Association:
HONORING FAMILY, EDUCATION, & COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE AND MENTORSHIP
Preamble…
“We, the members of the National Latino Peace Officer’s Association- Southeast Harris County Chapter, realizing that we can make a contribution to the law enforcement process or our city, state and nation, we fraternally established ourselves as an association to assist, support and motivate change, whenever appropriate. We are aware that the people served by the law enforcement system are varied ethnically, and culturally. Therefore, the process must be responsive to all the people of the community it serves. The National Latino peace Officer’s Association, working cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and the community, will endeavor to recruit, select and retain quality people into the law enforcement system. The National Latino Peace Officer’s Association will endeavor to keep the community informed of the problems, needs and opportunities in law enforcement!”
Goals and Objectives…
We, the National Latino Peace Officer’s Association have developed four primary objective mandates:
- Recruitment of qualified peace officers
- Recruitment and assistance to those officers while engaged in their probationary segment of employment
- Education- the NLPOA will endeavor to assist their members to engage in the promotional process.
- To keep the community informed to the problems, needs and opportunities in law enforcement; to serve as role models: To utilize traditional and non-traditional modes in order to establish a better relationships between law enforcement and the community.
Benefits…
Multi Agency Representation- As a member of NLPOA, you will be able to network with officers from other agencies. In addition, this structure lends a great deal of credibility to our goals and objectives in the eyes of elected officials! This also applies to the national and state status of this organization.
Training & Education Sponsorship- The NLPOA is committed to ensuring that our members are ready for leadership opportunities, as a result we sponsor TCLEOSE certified courses, provided by the Pasadena Academy, Community College’s Law Enforcement Departments or any accredited institution. Upon successful completion of a course, the chapter will consider a request for reimbursement. NLPOA will also consider requests from members pursuing non-law enforcement education courses.
Chapter Functions…
Monthly Membership Meetings- Meetings are held each month to discuss business, address issues, plan events, listen to guest speakers, and to meet each other and make new and lasting friendships! Chapter Fund-raisers-To raise funds for the chapter operations, to provide funds for community events, & to fund other student scholarship programs:
- Teen Dances For Intermediate School Students
- Scholarship Softball Tournaments
- Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway for Needy Families
- Benefit Basketball Tournaments
- Social Events
- Annual family picnics
- Christmas party
- Bar-B-Que & Cook-off get-togethers