New Paragraph
South Texas Board
Brant Kelley
Vice President
I am honored to serve as Vice President of the South Texas Chapter. For me, this mission is personal — I am the surviving brother of Officer Marc U. Kelley of the Trinity University Police Department, whose End of Watch was March 14, 2014. Marc’s life and legacy continue to inspire my commitment to advocacy, healing, and remembrance.
Professionally, I have built a career in both the public and private sectors, focusing on operational leadership, strategic planning and administrative excellence. I hold a Master of Health Administration degree and apply my education to improve operations and enhance service delivery wherever I serve.
Born and raised in San Antonio, I remain rooted in the community, where I live with my wife and daughter. I am also a devoted son to my mother, Hughella Kelley. With a strong sense of purpose and a heart for service, I will continue to honor the memory of my brother and all other fallen officers by standing with their families who carry on their legacies.
Matthew Pike Salomon
Secretary
I am Matthew Pike Salomon, a surviving son of Officer Hector Garza, SAPD. On March 29th, 2001, my father was shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute. Shortly after his death, my family struggled with infighting, and it quickly fell apart. Unable to cope with my grief, I became self-destructive and spent the next fifteen years struggling with addiction. After numerous arrests, jails, and rehab stays, I finally found long term recovery in 2016. It took me a long time to get to a place where I could help someone else.
Now, I dedicate much of my time and professional experience volunteering for organizations that benefit our community. Currently, I serve as the Board Vice President of Fiesta Youth, San Antonio’s only LGBTQ+ youth organization. I also serve on the city of San Antonio’s Affirmative Action Advocacy Committee as the Vice Chair. I am honored to be a part of the South Texas C.O.P.S. Board, and the collective healing hand of its members.
“For in the real world, the plain truth is that justice, valor, service, and hope, often involve peril and sacrifice.”- Ret. SAPD Chief Al Philippus
Al Lujan
Treasurer
Bio to come
Juanita Garza
Past President
On Memorial Day May 31,1999 my life was forever changed when I got that dreaded knock on the door. Early that morning my husband had left for a mandatory In-Service training, that would be the last time I or our children; ages 8, 18 and 22 would see him, or us be a family. Around 10:30 a.m. his Warden and chaplain were at my house to inform me that he was killed in a head-on collision. Frank was a Corrections Officer at the Dominguez State Jail/TDCJ. I was told about Concerns of Police Survivors, an organization no one wants to be a part of but glad it's there to help in the grieving and healing process. It doesn't matter if you're a new survivor or a seasoned survivor, they vow to stand by you and support you through the many milestones and life changes on your journey without your loved one. Today I continue to proudly serve on the board and vow to be there to offer support to new survivors during their healing process and help in any way I can, "Rebuilding Shattered Lives"
Juanita Garza, surviving spouse of Correctios Officer IV Francisco Garza E.O.W. 05/31/1999
Karen Bartling
Trustee
I live in New Braunfels, Texas, originally from New York State. I have been a public school educator for 32 years and recently retired. Joining the Board of C.O.P.S has been bittersweet. My incredible son, Corey B. Shields, a peace officer for the Schenectady NY police department, TSGT and combat veteran with the US Air Force, ended his life on 10-23-2021. Concerns of Police Survivors found me purely by the grace of God. Together with S.B.S. (Survivors of Blue Suicide), they have provided a lifeline as I worked my way through an inordinate amount of paperwork and the chaos of surviving a trauma no parent should endure. I bring a perspective to the South Texas C.O.P.S. Board as a Suicide Survivor, a destroyed parent left silently standing in the abyss of grief. I am now working with other parents from around the country who have been broken by suicide; we are not alone.
Maureen Ennor-Rocha
Trustee
Bio to come
Sharon Freeman
Trustee
Bio to come
David R. Kirk
Chaplain / Trustee
Greetings to All - I am an Ordained Minister, Clinical Pastoral Counselor, former Senior Pastor; Law Enforcement Senior Chaplain to various departments/agencies from local – The City of Elmendorf PD to federal – The US Secret Service. I am a Professionally Certified Senior Chaplain of the ICPC (International Conference of Police Chaplains) and one of their trainers.
It was at my first ICPC conference that I was introduced to COPS when I attended a plenary class with a COPS member teaching. After the class I asked the instructor if I could have an extra copy of the LODD flip cards. Her response was, “certainly – you never know when you’ll need one.” Three weeks later was the tragic LODD of City of Elmendorf Police Chief Michael Pimentel (EOW - 23/Aug/2014). The Sunday before, I had walked into the break room of the church my wife and I were soon to transition from. There was Michael’s motorcycle helmet and jacket on the back of a chair with him not present. He was just now transferring to this church. This was a foreshadowing moment, for I would never see him in person again – only his helmet and jacket at his funeral atop his motorcycle. Since that time, it has been my honor as well as duty to “be there” in whatever capacity and act as a “Ministry of Presence” for the officers, staff, and families of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. This is not a one-time interaction – It is to be ongoing for we are to Never Forget, and their Families are Never to be Forgotten.
Since that time, I have attended many COPS trainings/events including Trauma of Law Enforcement. As trained in Traumatology, I have an understanding how events can affect a broad spectrum of individuals. Families, co-workers, the community, and also those who are there to support and comfort. My first year as a LE Chaplain, I attended three LODD funerals.
My thoughts were “is this what the future will be?” Again, this truly affects us all in one way or another. My role is for those I am called to assist, including those who assist –
Rebuilding
Shattered Lives, which is COPS’ Motto.
Leonor Martinez
Trustee
Bio to come
Jennifer Dominguez
Morgan
Trustee
It is an honor to join this team in supporting the police survivors in our part of the great state of Texas. I became acquainted with Concerns of Police Survivors when my husband, Officer Fabian Dominguez, SAPD was killed in the line of duty on January 15, 1995. We have twin daughters who were 8 months old at the time. Over the years we have been involved with our local chapter and have joined together with our fellow survivors to comfort and encourage each other through life's challenges and blessings.
Fabian pushed through many challenges in his life and our family has done the same. We are grateful for the blessing of having Fabian in our lives and we hope he would be proud of how we have continued as we look forward to reuniting one day.
Irene Murnin
Trustee
Bio to come
Patrick Murnin
Trustee
A San Antonio native, I began my first year of policing with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office in 1987 as a county jailer. After attending the San Antonio Police Department Training Academy that same year, I started with SAPD as a patrol officer on the city’s east side. Over the years with SAPD I promoted and worked as a detective with the burglary unit, a sergeant with patrol, community policing and professional standards, and as a lieutenant of the Prue Road substation and Training Academy. I retired in 2020, having the privilege of serving as a captain with so many of SAPD’s finest within North Patrol, Traffic, Special Crimes, Special Operations, Communications, Fusion and Emergency Operations. I’m extremely thankful to have served as a bugler, piper and supervisor/instructor over the years within the SAPD Honor Guard from 1994 till my retirement, and even beyond.
Joining the honor guard in ’94 and the South Texas Chapter of C.O.P.S. in the mid 2000’s was a direct result of SAPD East B-shift Off. Doug Goeble’s ultimate sacrifice when shot on Thursday, April 18th, 1991. Irene (my wife and Chapter Trustee) and I pray that our team on this board continuously increases the chapter’s ability to serve and assist our families and co-workers who have personally experienced their greatest loss, as we collectively help to… “rebuild shattered lives.”
John Rodriguez
Trustee
My name is Sgt. John E. “Johnny” Rodriguez, (Ret.) of the San Angelo Police Department. I had heard of C.O.P.S. some time ago, but it wasn’t until April 6, 2012, that it became a small part of my life. On that day, Officer Jaime Padron of the Austin Police Department, formerly of the San Angelo Police Department, and cousin of my wife, Officer Irma Rodriguez, was killed in the line of duty. I learned more about C.O.P.S. but didn’t get involved. Little did I know how that would come back to haunt me later in life.
On Friday, June 25, 2015, just three months after my retirement, Sgt. Korby Kennedy, SAPD Traffic Supervisor and good friend of ours was killed in a motorcycle crash during an escort. Having stayed on as a reserve so that I could continue to be the commander of the SAPD Honor Guard, I was involved in his escort to Lubbock for autopsy, return and funeral on the following Monday. With Korby’s death, I once again heard about C.O.P.S., but this time I paid attention and attended a Traumas of Law Enforcement training. I have since attended another one and have been able to assist in the completion of the much-needed State and Federal benefits paperwork for a few families left to mourn the loss of an officer. There are some two hundred and fifty-four counties in Texas and only four Chapters of C.O.P.S. Needless to say, we need more help, but I know that I speak for every member of any Texas chapter, we will travel however long or however far to assist those families who sustain this heart-breaking event in our State.
Peggy Salazar
Trustee
Bio to come