This week Martha Montalvo became the first Latina to rise to the position of chief of the Houston Police Department (HPD). Of course, it’s an interim position, but she’s also in the running for the permanent position. Congratulations, chief Montalvo!
Montalvo assumed the position being vacated by Charles McClelland, who is retiring effective February 26, 2016.
Montalvo started as a beat cop in May of 1980. She has 35 years of service with HPD; she has progressed through the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain and assistant chief of police. Most recently, she has worked as McClelland’s chief of staff, providing administrative support to the chief while also having direct supervision of 128 officers and 60 civilians in five divisions at HPD. She has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Houston/Downtown and a Master of Science from Sam Houston State University.
In addition to being the first Hispanic to hold the position she is also preceded by just one other female. Montalvo is quoted by KTRK: “Follow your dreams. I’ve always wanted to be a police officer, that’s what I did. It wasn’t easy. it was something that I had to work for very hard. I was promoted through the ranks. I did it the right way.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner names Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo as interim Chief of Police.
Posted by Houston Police Department on Thursday, February 18, 2016
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[…] Hispanic Houston, Houston Defender Network, Houston Forward Times, KPRC-TV Channel 2, KTRH-AM 740, KTRK-TV Channel 13: Chief Martha Montalvo, who holds a bachelor of science from UHD, has been named interim chief of the Houston Police Department. Most recently, Montalvo served as chief of staff for outgoing Police Chief Charles McClellend. A 35-year veteran of the department, she is the first Hispanic and the second woman to hold the position. […]