The annual Roman Forest Police Department Awards and Appreciation Dinner at the EMCID building has a longstanding tradition of excellence, and Monday evening’s event was no exception. Police Chief Stephen Carlisle always plans the event with his staff, painstakingly overseeing every detail to make each year entertaining, unique and memorable.
For the 2018 ceremony, Chief Carlisle asked East Montgomery County Improvement District President and retired Lt. Colonel Frank McCrady to act as master of ceremonies, enabling the chief to personally present each award.
The Officer of the Year Award went to Officer Carlos Herrera, who began his Law Enforcement career with the Roman Forest Police Department in 2016. On behalf of Chief Carlisle, McCrady said Herrera “has proved to be a highly capable officer working across different fields including the special response team, DWI enforcement, and narcotic interdiction,” and “statistically led the Roman Forest Police Department for narcotics arrests and all other field arrest activity for the 2017 year.”
“Officer Herrera continually goes above and beyond when it comes to his job,” McCrady said.
Herrera was nominated by supervisors and other personnel based on a lengthy and varied list of factors, from his positive attitude to having played the key role in locating and apprehending four suspects charged with a crime spree that targeted over 20 vehicles in the Tavola subdivision.
There are always a few surprises at the annual event, but at the 2018 ceremony, the one most surprised was probably Chief Carlisle. Roman Forest Police Association President Chris Wall took the podium and asked the Chief to remain at the front.
Wall said the Roman Forest Police Association Leadership Award was created “to recognize those who display exceptional leadership which in turn inspires and encourages personal growth in others.”
“Anyone can be in a leadership position,” he said. “You can make schedules, complete pay roll, send out memos and so forth. But to truly be an effective leader it takes much more than sitting in the office telling others what to do. A true leader brings people together, shows compassion, listens to understand and not to reply, arrives before anyone else and many times leaves after everyone is gone. A true leader knows he’s not perfect but continues to strive for perfection.”
“We have a true leader here before us today,” Wall said. “We have a leader who not only strives to make a better place for his officers to work, but also works with the city administration to make the city itself a more professional and respected organization.”
He continued, describing Chief Carlisle as a leader who dedicates himself to the community, including not only Roman Forest, but all of East Montgomery County, making it “a safer place to live and work.” Wall then added that his chief still “finds the time to be a friend, husband and father.”
Wall presented a visibly moved Carlisle with the special award that was a beautifully painted statue of an eagle on a wooden base.
Corporal Fidel Flores was named Reserve Office of the Year for his “exemplary performance and a dependable and reliable devotion to the department by volunteering his time as a patrol officer.”
The Citizen Citation Award was presented to Markuise Thomas and Cameron White, a pair of 12-year-old boys credited with saving the life of a drowning girl on February 16, 2017 in Roman Forest.
The boys were near the banks of Peach Creek when they noticed the 4-year-old autistic girl playing on the other side. She had managed to get over her backyard fence and then wandered to the creek, where she began playing on a tree limb that stretched over the water. They boys were heading home when Markuise happened to glance back at the creek just in time to see the lib break, dumping the little girl into the water. He immediately jumped in and rescued her.
Cameron also went down to the creek as Markuise pulled the girl out. The boys then went to find help and located an adult who called Chief Carlisle. The little girl was then returned to her grateful family.
The mother said “I am, and will be forever thankful for the boys who were so heroic and brave to jump right on in and protect her. I hope God abundantly blesses them for the rest of their lives for saving my sweet baby girl.”
Other awards presented:
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Retired Officers were honored, including:
– Tom Johnson, retired 1998, Assistant Chief and Interim Chief
– Robert Puddy, retired 2011, Corporal
– Tommy Jatzlau, retired 2013, Chief of Police 2002-2012
– Ed Summer , retired 2013, Reserve Commander
– Earl Kyle, retired 2014
– Titus Wells. Retired 2017, Reserve Commander
Roman Forest Mayor Chris Parr was honored along with city council members Conley Wallace, Tony Garza, Jill Carlson, Greg and David Mullane.
Chief Carlisle administered the Oath of Office to new Roman Forest Police Officers Rachel Rippe, Jacob Culver, and Ronnie “Bubba” Tullos.
Chief Carlisle presented Service Bars to the following officers, who received one bar for each 4 years of service.
Officer Richard Davis, 1 bar for 4 years
Officer Fidel Flores, 2 bars for 8 years
Captain Dimitri Jasonis 2 bars for 8 years
Officer Robert Bymaster, 9 bars for 36 years
Chief Carlisle also received his 6 service bars for 24 years.
 
Specialty Pins were presented as follows:
Field Training Officer – Randall Blacketter
Bicycle Patrol – Randall Blackketter
Special Weapons and Tactics S.W.A.T. –Â Roxana Castillo and Carlos Herrera
Instructor – Randall Blackketter
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Officer Brian Smith received an Achievement Award and uniform ribbon for Military Service.
Officer Roxana Castillo received an Achievement Award and ribbon in recognition of being named EMCID’s East Montgomery County Outstanding Officer 2017
McCrady explained that a unique thing happened last year, when Roxana Castillo was nominated by the Woodbranch Police Department for the East Montgomery County Outstanding Officer of the Year 2017.
“The Commendation from the Woodbranch Police Chief was in appreciation of her helping them with advice, coverage, training, and more importantly, making a positive difference to the citizens of his city,” McCrady said.
A Chief of Police Letter of Recognition is written to any member of the Police Department who has distinguished themselves by an outstanding achievement, act or service within the normal scope of their duties. A person may be recommended for a letter by any member of the Police Department. The recommendation should be written to the Chief of Police through the chain of command, fully explaining the details of the incident and reasons for the commendation. The recommendation will be considered solely by the Chief of Police. The Letter of Recognition will be written and signed by the Chief of Police and presented to the employee. The following were recipients of the Letter of Recognition:
Ronnie “Bubba” Tullos
Jackie Garza
Richard Davis
Carlos Herrera
James Parker
Randall Blackketter
Roxana Castillo
Chris Wall
Fidel Flores
Captain Lonnie Cantwell
Chief Stephen Carlisle
This Chief of Police Letter of Recognition and Hurricane Harvey Disaster ribbon was presented to them as a group, because they responded to the Hurricane Harvey Disaster, and truly made a difference.
Chief Stephen Carlisle, Captain Lonnie Cantwell, Fidel Flores, Chris Wall, Roxana Castillo, Randall Blackketter, James Parker, Carlos Herrera, and Jackie Garza, worked a continuous 5 to 7 days around the clock during the disaster providing relief, support, rescue, security, and service to the citizens of our community and beyond.
Officer Chris Wall, being the only other trained Incident Commander, stepped up to assume the duties of Incident Commander to allow Chief Stephen Carlisle an opportunity to rest after endless hours, little rest, and mutiny threats from City Administrator Liz Mullane and boss Laura Carlisle.
Police Cadet (now Officer) Ronnie Tullos volunteered many hours providing security and quality control for meals at the Roman Forest and Montgomery County shelters under Chief Carlisle’s deputizing authority. In addition to normal duties, Richard Davis took in and provided medical for two abused and abandoned dogs.
Chase Bradley received a Meritorious Award for three years of Safe Driving.
Roxana Castillo also received a Meritorious Service Award.  Castillo’s experience as a US Air Force Honor Guard quickly was recognized in the first weeks of her employment with the Roman Forest when a neighboring agency’s fallen officer was being transported in preparation for his funeral. And then a week later with the 5 Dallas officers’ funerals. Shortly afterwards, Officer Castillo began putting together an Honor Guard for our agency.  As a reprehensive of the Roman Forest Police Department, she attended many police funerals, even as far as New York City.
Dr. Richard White received his 10 Year Service Award
Robert Bymaster received his 35 Year Service Award
Certificates of Appreciation were presented to former Mayor Floyd Jackson, former Mayor Ray Ricks and Mayor Chris Parr, all of whom Chief Carlisle called “a Cop’s Mayor”
“Each one of them had a role in appointing me and keeping me as chief,” Carlisle wrote, then describing highlights of his relationship with each mayor.
Law Enforcement Explorers Post 0911 Awards were presented as follows:
9-1-1 Certification
Christian Hernandez
Bryan Rodas
Jacob Wilson
Estephany Zuniga
Community Emergency Response Team Certification (C.E.R.T)
Kelsi Alyas
Christina Bess
Sydney Busby
Mackenna Eccles
John Garcia
Trajan Hammons
Christian Hernandez-Vazquez
Yasmine Jankowiak
Gissella Lara
Brittney McGowan
Ellis Nguyen
Osvaldo Renteria-Torres
Bryan Rodas
Noah Wallin
Jacob Wilson
CPR Certification
Kelsi Aliyas
Christina Bess
Sydney Busby
Christian Vasquez
Yasmine Jankowiak
Gisselle Lara
Denise Martinez
Tyler McDanel
Ellis Nguyen
Bryan Rodas
Jacob Wilson
Law Enforcement Explorers Posts 911
2 Cadets earned Perfect Attendance
20 Cadets earned Tenure Award
7 Cadets earned Drug Abuse Prevention Award
10 Cadets earned Emergency Preparedness Award
1 Outstanding Explorer Award
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