Stafford City Council recognized and introduced new members of the Stafford Police Department during the Oct. 1 meeting, as the chief presented backgrounds and department leaders welcomed the officers before the community.

Detective Bozard was introduced as a detective with 12 years of law enforcement experience, including prior service as a deputy sheriff in South Carolina and Georgia, U.S. Army service, SWAT certification and K-9 experience in explosive detection and narcotics interdiction. Officer Foley was described as a part-time bailiff and a 25-year law enforcement veteran with prior service at the Harris County Sheriffs Office and the Department of Homeland Security; staff said Foley is the departments first part-time bailiff officer. Officer Haynes (also referred to as Haines in the packet) was presented as having a bachelors degree from Texas Southern University and over two years of law enforcement experience with emphasis on community policing and crisis intervention. Officer Rodriguez and Officer Quinones were also introduced; Quinones was noted as a recent graduate of the Wharton County Junior College Law Enforcement Academy and bilingual.

Department leaders told the council that three of the newly hired officers will be in field training after finishing classroom portions of the departments program; Foley is assigned to court services. The chief presented each officers duties and encouraged officers to use the Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement book provided to each new hire and their families to help them navigate the stresses of policing.

Council members praised the hires, thanked the families and emphasized the citys commitment to public safety and training. No formal vote was required for the introductions; the remarks functioned as a personnel recognition and welcome.