Art Acevedo

Hubert Arturo Acevedo (born July 31, 1964) is an American police officer and the incumbent chief of police of the Houston Police Department. He previously held the same position at the Austin Police Department following a career with the California Highway Patrol.

Background and education

Acevedo was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1964, immigrating to the United States at age four with his family in 1968. His father was a police officer in Havana. Acevedo grew up in El Monte, California, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1985. He attended Rio Hondo College, graduating in 1986 with an associate's degree in communications. In 2005, Acevedo graduated from University of La Verne with a bachelor's in public administration.

Career

Acevedo began his career as a field patrol officer in East Los Angeles with the California Highway Patrol in 1986 after graduation from their training academy. He rose to the rank of chief with CHP in 2005 before being hired as the chief of police for the Austin Police Department on June 14, 2007. In November 2016, Acevedo was hired as Houston police chief, filling a vacancy created after the retirement of Charles McClelland that February. Acevedo is the first person of Hispanic descent to lead the department.

Political views

Acevedo in January 2020 described himself as a registered Republican during his time in California, but a "lifelong RINO," or "Republican In Name Only." In the same interview, he addressed his outspokenness on gun violence and reiterated his support for the Violence Against Women Act and openness to decriminalization of some drugs.