Lupe Valdez

Lupe Valdez
Sheriff
Dallas County, Texas

Lupe Valdez was elected Sheriff of Dallas County, Texas on November 4, 2004. She took the rank of the highest ranking law enforcement officer in the County of Dallas on January 1, 2005. Sheriff Valdez is one of four female Sheriffs in the State of Texas. She is also the only Hispanic Female Sheriff in the United States. Sheriff Valdez has been in Law Enforcement for more than 36 years both Federal and State. On November 4, 2012, she was re-elected to serve another four years.

Prior to becoming Sheriff, Lupe worked to protect the lives and property of American Citizens at home and abroad in homeland security, antiterrorism investigations, criminal law enforcement. She has been featured in several books.

As a young child, Lupe learned strong work ethics. She put herself through college to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Bethany Nazarene College now Southern Nazarene University sometimes working up to two jobs. By developing sterling work habits, she propelled her career in law enforcement. She demonstrated her commitment to constant improvement and education by earning a Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Arlington.

While Sheriff, she has worked diligently to address deep structural problems that developed over the preceding 20 years. Understaffed, overpopulated, medically deprived and conditions that were unsanitary. In the past three years, with the partnering of Commissioner’s Court, Parkland Hospital, Dallas County Constables, County Probation Office, Judges and the District Attorney’s Office, she has succeeded in accomplishing many of the problems that plagued the Department such as:

Hiring 400 new detention service officers Expanding the highway patrol system to include over 78 miles of in-County highways Completed construction on the new South Tower jail facility Improved the quality of healthcare for the mentally ill inmates Located probation absconders, thus removing the most wanted and dangerous individuals from the neighborhoods Completed Medical Modification to house over 300 mentally and physically ill inmates.

Lupe’s commitment to public service continues by having served as member of: DISD Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program Women in Federal Law Enforcement Association Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas North Texas Crime Commission North Texas Police Chief’s Association Texas Jail Association National Sheriff’s Association Major County Sheriff’s Association Texas Sheriff’s Association Oak Cliff Lions Club Irving Women’s Network Sheriff’s Association of Texas 2009-2012 Legislative Committee Sheriff’s Association of Texas 2009-2012 TCOLE Advisory Committee 2008-2012 Jail Advisory Committee.

Since taking office, Lupe has received several awards including some of the following: Women’s Leadership Exchange-Compass Award Citigroup-Women Changing America Award Dallas Morning News-Distinguished Women Lecture Series Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (Dallas Chapter) – Political Awareness and Involvement Award Haggar Clothing – Women in Diversity 2005 Outstanding Hispanic Women of America Texas NAACP Award 2005 Women Leaders of America 2005 Hispanic Leaders of America WCA 2007 Woman of the Year 2007 Elected Official of the Year – National Association of Social Worker’s Girls Inc., “She Knows Where She’s Going Award” – April 12, 2007 SMU Profiles in Leadership Award – February 28, 2008 2012 Women that Soar Civic Award 2013 National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Women’s Leadership Award 2013 Dialogue Institute Community Service Award 2014 Hispanic 100 Latina Living Legend Award 2015 La Cima Latina Leadership Award.