The Southwest Management District honored exceptional Houston Police Department officers and Youth Explorers members today at its annual March On Crime ceremony that emphasizes the importance of nourishing ties between communities and first responders with the goal of keeping a lid on crime.

The honorees were selected by HPD commanders who oversee police work within the boundaries of the Southwest District, which includes Chinatown, Sharpstown and the Gandhi District.

They are South Gessner Patrol Commander Adrian Rodriguez, Midwest Patrol Commander Zachary Becker and Westside Patrol Commander Reece Hardy.

Rookie officers of the year are:

  • Aaron Escobar, South Gessner
  • Abel Rueda Arreguin, Midwest
  • Hans Bogaard Villacorta, Westside

Officers of the year are:

  • Marlenis Ayala, South Gessner
  • Tallal Salameh, Midwest
  • Kevin Bui, Westside

Supervisors of the year are:

  • Sgt. Jose Juarez, South Gessner
  • Sgt. Huan Pham, Midwest
  • Sgt. Alex Chan, Westside

Youth Explorers of the year are:

  • Yuki Kitagagawe, Midwest
  • Lt. Denali Randle, Westside

“The chief job of management districts is economic development. But here in our District, we take action with the idea that economic development will not continue without constant improvement in public safety,” District Chairman Kenneth Li told the audience, which included U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, District Attorney Kim Ogg, HPD Executive Chief Matt Slinkard and families of local first responders who died in the line of duty in the past year.

“That is why the District is eager and proud to fund extra police patrols, police training, police equipment, police participation in training and conventions, and much more,” he added.

The District also has provided funding for the creation of the HPD lion dance team, a community outreach project whose members performed at the ceremony on Tuesday at Houston Christian University.

Crime statistics have declined in the Southwest District from 2021 to 2022 and again into 2023, Li pointed out.

The city of Houston and the Houston Apartment Association’s Rental Credit Reporting service co-hosted the ceremony with HPD and the District.

District J City Council Member Edward Pollard delivered the keynote address and the ceremony emcee was Khambrel Marshall, public affairs program host and meteorologist at KPRC2, whose headquarters are in the management district service area.