Patricia Cantu

Patricia Cantu is an Assistant Chief with the Houston Police Department, the fifth-largest municipal police department in the United States. She is a native Houstonian growing up in Houston’s East End and graduating from Stephen F. Austin High School. Her law enforcement career began with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department in 1991 serving through 1999. At the HCSO, she worked as a Deputy/jailer at the various jails, at the Inmate Processing Center, the Information Booth, and was the first Latina selected to work in the Harris County Narcotic Task Force working in an undercover capacity. While at the Sherriff’s Department, Patricia successfully completed an internship in the Homicide Division and the Juvenile Violent Offenders Unit for college credit.

In August 1999, Patricia joined the Houston Police Department. As an officer, she was assigned to Patrol, Differential Response Unit/Community Service, and the Divisional Internal Affairs Unit. As a Sergeant, she worked in an investigative and administrative capacity in the Burglary and Theft Division, Financial Crimes Unit and returned to Patrol as a Field Training Sergeant. As a Lieutenant, she was recognized as being the first female Lieutenant and first Latina to hold the prestigious title in the Solo Motorcycle Detail, Traffic Enforcement Division. The Solo unit is responsible for commanding Presidential and other high risk dignitary escorts. As a Captain/Commander, she proudly served the community she was raised in at the Eastside Patrol Division. Her last assignment as a Commander was at the Air Support Division.

On April 17, 2021, Police Chief Troy Finner appointed Patricia to Assistant Chief of Patrol Region 2 Command where she oversees 5 Patrol Divisions and Traffic Enforcement leading more than 800 personnel. She also has been instrumental with organizing public safety initiatives such as the City of Houston’s gun buyback program, implementing recommendations from the Mayor’s task force on police reform, and mentoring future leaders of the Houston Police Department.

In July of 2017, Assistant Chief Cantu attended FBI National Academy Session #269. On November 1, 2017 thru December 2, 2017, as a Commander, she volunteered to represent and lead HPD to assist the relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. She was responsible for the first 50 officers and supervisors of the first two groups. Traveling to Puerto Rico made HPD history, as this was the first time the Department traveled out of the country to assist another Law Enforcement agency. In June 2022, she completed the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) class #82 in Boston.

Today, she is the highest-ranking Hispanic female at the Houston Police Department. She chairs various committees including the Crash Review Board and the FBINA Selection Committee and is Vice Chair of the Department’s Hispanic Officer of the Year Committee. Chief Cantu has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston, Downtown and a master’s degree in criminal justice from University of Houston at Clear Lake.