Meet Lieutenant Arthur Barrera, a UTRGV Unsung Hero
Text by Priscilla Ramirez, student staff writer
Photos by Silver Salas, student staff photographer:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/utrgvnews/62q8K4
Lt. Arthur “Art” Barrera has a decorated history of law enforcement under his belt.
Plaques and certificates hang alongside photos of him with prominent figures – Vice President Al Gore and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to name a few. Closer to his desk, you'll find framed photos of his two daughters, along with treasured gifts from them.
He’s been a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper with the Highway Patrol Service, and a staff lieutenant with the Texas Rangers. He brings all that experience to the table in his current position as a supervisor of the UTRGV Police Department’s Professional Standards Unit and Criminal Investigation Division.
He keeps a close eye on operations to ensure everything runs smoothly, but he has confidence in the talented members of the UTRGV Police Department.
“The ideas and skills they have add so much value to our department,” he says.
His main duties focus on administrative work, but he most enjoys interacting with students and meeting with the university community.
“If I can help a student graduate or stay in school and stay away from bad influences, then I’ve done my job,” he says. “It’s rewarding and refreshing to see the community this department protects.”
NAME: Arthur R. Barrera
JOB TITLE: Lieutenant, Professional Standards Unit and Criminal Investigation Division
CAMPUS: Edinburg
DEPARTMENT: University Police Department
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT UTRGV?
I am a police lieutenant who supervises the Professional Standards Unit and Criminal Investigation Division. There are so many other components here at the UTRGV Police Department, and I enjoy assisting wherever I can be of assistance.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED HERE?
Four years.
DESCRIBE YOUR AVERAGE DAY
As an administrative police supervisor, most of my time is working within the police department and attending meetings from Edinburg to Brownsville. A great deal of my day is comprised of reviewing applications on prospective applicants for the police department, conducting applicant interviews, coordinating and scheduling meetings on behalf of the police department, and assisting our training division. A portion of the day is discussing investigative issues with our Criminal Investigation Division.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB?
Working toward the success of the police department by supervising the training and Criminal Investigation Division. Also, engaging with the students, faculty and staff on the different campus locations is very rewarding.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY, OR STORY, ABOUT YOUR TIME HERE?
I really enjoy mentoring UTRGV students who intern with the police department, whether they follow a professional career in law enforcement or not.
TELL US SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU:
I had the opportunity to work for the Texas Department of Public Safety for 31 years and retired as a staff lieutenant with the Texas Rangers in 2015. I also have a rival house-divided. My oldest daughter graduated from Texas A&M as an Aggie, and my youngest daughter graduated from UT-Austin as a Longhorn.
DO YOU FEEL A SPECIAL BOND WITH THE UTRGV COMMUNITY?
Yes, there is a special bond. I graduated from UT-Pan American and had the opportunity to return and work for UT-Pan American in 2015, and eventually transitioned into UTRGV. In the early ’80s, I was very active on campus and with a fraternity while attending school.
MESSAGES FROM PEERS
“I nominated my supervisor, Lt. Arthur Barrera, as an Unsung Hero because he has a very important job, especially in this day and age. He is in charge of Internal Affairs investigations for the police department, and additionally supervises my department (Property and Evidence), Victim Services, the Criminal Investigations Division, and much more. He has done a lot for our department. He is humble about it, but I would like to recognize him.”
—Jeannette Zallar, Property and Evidence technician, UTRGV P.D.
