Chief John Blackburn--Dallas Independent School District Chief of Police John Blackburn has more than 30 years of municipal and school policing experience in Texas.  After a distinguished career with the Houston Police Department, he began his service to the Houston ISD in 1994 and became the district’s chief of police in November 2000.  He took command of the Dallas ISD Police and Security Services Department in May of 2006. More...

Assistant Chief Bill Avera--Bill Avera has been involved in policing since 1975, has a bachelor’s degree cum laude in Law Enforcement and Police Science from Sam Houston State University, and has a long history of being active in civic, community and church-related organizations.  He recently was promoted to the Assistant Chief position after serving as a lieutenant in Dallas ISD PD since 2004. He previously served as chief of police in Cockrell Hill and Brownfield, Texas.  He has extensive government training, including Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1990 and 1992, and the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas in 2001 and 2003.  He has a master police officer, crime prevention inspector, instructor and permanent peace officer license certification from TCLEOSE.

Deputy Chief Gary Hodges--Deputy Chief of Police Gary Hodges, a 1966 Samuell High School graduate, serves as the director of emergency operations and compliance for the District. Previously he supervised patrol, communications/alarm monitoring and investigations within the department.  A Vietnam veteran who served on the USS Tripoli, Chief Hodges holds a bachelor’s of business administration from Baylor University, and a master of science from Abilene Christian University at Dallas. 

Lt. Ted Garber--Lieutenant Ted Garber has a distinguished law enforcement career of more than 40 years.  The former Chief of Police in the cities of Waxahache and Azle, Texas, holds a bachelors degree from the University of Texas at Dallas in government and politics.  He also is a former lieutenant with the Garland Police Department.  He presently oversees the Criminal Investigations Division, crime scene investigations, and the patrol division.

Lt. Calvin Howard--Since the mid 1960s, Lieutenant Calvin J. Howard has proudly served our nation with a combined total of 27 years of active and reserve service in the military, and a combined total of 34 years in law enforcement. His law enforcement career includes service with Miami’s Metro Dade Police Department and the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office in Fort Worth.  He retired from the Dallas Police Department after 20 years of service; and presently holds a Master TCLEOSE Certification. Howard holds a 1972 associates degree in law enforcement and a 1977 bachelor’s of science degree in criminal justice.  While in the military, Howard served as Company First Sergeant of Military Intelligence Company/Counterintelligence.  He retired in 1994 as a Sergeant First Class. Lt. Howard supervises communications, special events, and internal affairs.

Rene Ronquillo--Rene A. Ronquillo serves as the department’s operations executive. He is a Human Resources professional with more than 15 years experience in the public and private sector to include 10 years in a senior level supervisory capacity.  He has an extensive and diverse HR background in the areas of staffing/recruitment, employee relations, labor relations, compliance, compensation and benefits.  Ronquillo also has a demonstrated experience in representing HR at the strategic and tactical levels within the organization.  He received a master’s in public administration from Texas Christian University.    He also has served as the executive director of the Dallas School Administrators Association. 

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