By Cindy Granier
The University of Houston Police Department held a badge-pinning ceremony Nov. 6 at the Student Center. Many staff members were recognized. Several security officers became commissioned and were hired as police officers, one assistant fire marshal was recognized who began working a dual position, and two police officers were promoted.
Kasey Sosa
Kasey Sosa is a native Houstonian who attended Houston Community College to study criminal justice. She began her employment with UHPD as a security officer in November 2013 and soon wished to become a police officer. She attended the University of Houston-Downtown Police Academy and was hired as a police officer in August 2014. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two boys, Julian Alarcon and Johnny Reyes.
Kurt Smith
Kurt Smith was born and raised in Michigan. He joined UHPD as a security officer in January 2014. He graduated from East Texas Police Academy in 2014, where he received an award for endurance and combat training. He is currently a student of South University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Smith was promoted from security officer to police officer in March 2014. He enjoys helping people and being involved in the community and feels that law enforcement gives him the opportunity to do that on a daily basis. In his free time, he enjoys riding four-wheelers and working on vehicles.
Anita Couch
As a native Houstonian, Anita Couch graduated from the Houston Community College Law Enforcement Academy in 2005. She began her employment with UHPD in 2006. During her time with UH, she has served as a patrol officer, field training officer and as a member of the Criminal Investigations Unit. She holds an Advanced Peace Officer’s Certificate. She has been promoted to the rank of corporal.
Demarcus Williams
After working as a regional internal investigator for Nordstrom’s for 10 years, Demarcus Williams decided to pursue a career in law enforcement. He graduated from the Houston Community College Police Academy and began working at UHPD in June 2012, where he has served as a patrol officer, bike officer and field training officer. He enjoys helping people and being involved in the community and feels that law enforcement gives him the opportunity to do that on a daily basis. He feels honored to serve the UH community and hopes to do so for many years to come. He has been promoted to the rank at corporal.
Nathan Green
Nathan Green is a native of Houston and grew up in Spring Branch. He began working at the Harris County Sheriff’s Office as a jailer in 1987 and completed his Basic Peace Officer Certificate in 1989. After retiring from Harris County in 2014, Green joined the UH Department of Public Safety in 2014 as the assistant fire marshal in the Environmental Health and Life Safety department at the Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch campuses. He is dual certified with the Texas Fire Commission and Commission on Law Enforcement. He has served as a deputy sheriff, arson investigator, fire inspector, field training officer and firefighter. He volunteers his time with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and enjoys spending his spare hours at home with his wife Linda and restoring old cars. Green will continue working as the assistant fire marshal while working at the rank of police officer for the Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch campuses.