Four Dallas-Fort Worth law enforcement officers earned 2026 Texas Officer of the Year honors as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) recognized recipients Saturday at the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas’ 50th anniversary convention in San Antonio.
Dallas Police Detective/Senior Cpl. Eduardo Lopez Villa joined honorees from Fort Worth, Tarrant County and Denton on the list of 17 recipients, according to the governor’s press release.
Four DFW officers recognized
The North Texas recipients are:
- Detective/Senior Cpl. Eduardo Lopez Villa, Dallas Police Department.
- Bruce Anderson, Fort Worth Police Department.
- Jerry Brown, Tarrant County Constable’s Office.
- Officer Justin Torres, Denton Police Department.
The governor’s announcement names the recipients and their agencies but does not detail the individual work that earned each officer the award.
The recognition continues a run of DFW honorees. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the 2025 recipients included officers from Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth and the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office.
Other Texas honorees
The other 13 recipients are:
- Deputy Rudy Aguilar, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
- Juan Alejandro Garcia, Webb County Sheriff’s Office.
- Detective John Armendariz, El Paso Police Department.
- Deputy Jose Calderon, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
- Officer Ryan Callesto, Beaumont Police Department.
- Manuel Escamilla, Midland County Sheriff’s Office.
- Deputy Larry Kissam, Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
- Officer Noel Mercado, San Antonio Police Department.
- Officer Matthew Munselle, Port Arthur Police Department.
- Deputy Lee Nino, Harris County Constable’s Office.
- Officer Matthew Santos, Abilene Police Department.
- Senior Officer Kyle Simmons, Corpus Christi Police Department.
- Detective Daisy Trevino, Hays County Sheriff’s Office.
Abbott pledges support for officers
Abbott thanked officers for their service and emphasized the dangers they face protecting Texas communities. CLEAT President Scott Leeton and officers from across the state joined the governor at the convention.
“Texas is stronger because of the men and women who serve in law enforcement, who answer the call to protect and serve our state every single day,” Abbott said in the release.
“You put your lives on the line to keep our fellow Texans safe, and I want you to know, you have a Governor who has your back. Together we will keep Texas safe and secure.”
The October 3 ceremony followed Abbott’s proclamation Friday designating October 2026 as Law Enforcement Appreciation Month in Texas. He announced the designation at the Governor’s Mansion in Austin to recognize officers serving communities statewide.
Provided by Dallas Express
