HPD Officer Receives the 2006 Lynn B. Clooney Memorial Award

April 22, 2007 - Houston Police Officer Emma Rodriguez was named “Officer of the Year” by the Houston Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association in a ceremony held on April 5, 2007 at the Houston Police Academy.

Officer Emma Rodriguez joined the Houston Police Department 10 years ago when she began her career at the Southeast Patrol Division. For the past six years she has been a member of the Sex Crimes Unit. She is being recognized for an arrest made on November 26, 2006 of a suspect wanted in the assault of a child in December 1992. The victim refused to speak about the incident and recanted her statement given to Child Protective Services because her mother threatened her. The case was cleared unfounded in March 1993. Officer Rodriguez located the victim again and then gained her trust and confidence. The victim put aside her fears and pursued charges against the suspect. Officer Rodriguez presented the case to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and charges were accepted. Because Officer Rodriguez took a closer look at this once closed case, a predator was taken off the street and is now in the Harris County Jail awaiting trial.

Lynn Clooney was a founding member of the Houston Citizens Police Academy formed in 1989. Although she died in 1993, she spent many years serving the men and women of the Houston Police Department in her role as president of the Positive Interaction Program (P.I.P.). The Lynn Clooney Memorial Award was established in honor of Ms. Clooney’s contributions to the Houston Police Department and to recognize those officers who “go the extra mile” to serve the citizens of Houston.

JGA/VHS 4-23-07

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.