The Texas Fallen Officer Foundation is a 501(c)3 police-support organization designed to assist the families of police officers killed or critically injured in the line-of-duty. The foundation strives to honor the sacrifice of our "fallen" heroes by supporting their families. The foundation actively works to support the families of fallen officers by providing: financial assistance, access to resources, and special programs to help survivors overcome their grief.
Since its inception, the foundation has supported numerous families across the State of Texas and beyond and has donated more than 1 million dollars in support to fallen officers and their families. As a core part of its mission, the Texas Fallen Officer Foundation boldly advocates for the interests of police officers working to keep their communities safe.
My name Demetrick Pennie. I am a seventeen-year veteran sergeant with the Dallas Police Department. I am also the current president and principled architect behind of the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation. I am a strong advocate for education, philanthropy, community engagement, and support for law enforcement. I served four years in the United States Army and maintained a secret security clearance. In 1999, after my service term ended, I became a police officer for the City of Dallas. While working as a police officer, I earned several college degrees – graduating with honors including: Associate degree in Administration of Justice from Honolulu Community College, a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice from Midwestern State University, and a Masters' degree in Counseling from Prairie View A&M University. I recently completed my doctorate degree in Higher Education from Texas Tech University. I am also an adjunct college professor for two major universities specializing in social science doctrine such as: cultural diversity, ethics, and criminal justice. I know it sounds cliché, but I believe that "education is the key to success" and "community service is the cornerstone to social awareness."
Officer Kerri C. Long has been with the Tyler Police Department for over 20 years. She has served in various units throughout the department including Patrol Operations and the Criminal Investigation Division. Kerri is currently assigned with the Investigation and Tactical Unit where she serves as a Community Resource Officer. Her responsibilities include the coordination of major public events, community meetings, and organizing direct communication between the police department and its citizens as a liaison for the department within her assigned area. In addition to her regular assigned duties, Kerri is actively engaged and serves the department in a leadership capacity as an Explorer Advisor mentoring the young men and women of the Boy Scouts of America's Explorer Program. Additionally, Kerri serves the department by assisting in safety classes provided to the women of Tyler, Texas. Kerri has received several citations and awards during her service as a Tyler Police Officer. Further, she sits on the board of the East Texas Crime Prevention Association as the Secretary of Treasure which provides both valuable resources not only to the region but to the Tyler citizens as well. Kerri is part of, and is an active member of the East Texas Substance Abuse Coalition where she assists and coordinates in the education of substance abuse and the proper destruction methods for pharmaceutical drugs within the East Texas Area. Kerri is also part of the Fraud Squad with Better Business Bureau for Tyler.
My name is Brittany Mercer. I am a proud founding member of the Texas Fallen Officer Foundation. As an executive board member, dedicated to the organization and its mission, it is truly an honor to be able to support the "heroes in blue" that have sacrificed so much for this nation. I have always respected the service and sacrifice of first responders and serving in this role affords me an opportunity to be directly linked to those who I value so highly. I was born the eldest female of 11 children, which propelled me into a leadership role early in life. Over years, I have embraced my leadership responsibilities and have committed a significant portion of my time to supporting community service initiatives such as John 3:16 Mission and United Way. I hold an Associate Degree in Human Sciences from the Tulsa Community College. I am currently employed full-time as the Director of Catering for Cowboy Chicken in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The Cowboy Chicken organization is a strong supporter of law enforcement, which facilitates my passion for helping law enforcement.
Greymi Rosa currently holds the position of 2nd Vice President/Executive Director of Marketing for the Texas Fallen Officers Association. Greymi has worked in Law Enforcement in North Texas for the past 13 years, and currently, he is a Sheriff Deputy with the Collin County Sheriff's Office. Additionally, Greymi has held multiple leadership roles with Fortune 500 retail organizations across the country. Greymi grew up in New York City and South Florida before moving to the North Texas area in 2009. Mr. Rosa has worked for various Fortune 500 companies in executive leadership roles. In his spare time, Greymi enjoys spending time with family, attending his children's sporting events and traveling. Proficient in read, writing and speaking Spanish.
Rob Kyker, a West Texas native, is the owner of R&D Sales and CEO of The Crockett Retreat Center. He is an Eagle Scout and Master Mason, with over thirty years of volunteer service to the Boy Scouts of America organization. He is also a national spokesperson for Emergency Preparedness Committee and chairman of the Emergency Preparedness Committee for the Circle Ten District Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Dallas. He has served as a volunteer for the Love of the Lake of White Rock Lake and past coach for the Youth Sports Association of Dallas and a past volunteer for Los Barrios United Community Health Center, the Dallas Down Syndrome Guild and Special Olympics. He serves on the Medal of Honor Dallas board, Veterans Day Parade and Memorial Day Dallas and a volunteer with The North Texas Legion of Valor chapter. Kyker serves as a Commissioner with the Texas Credit Union Department (Chairman of Rules committee). He also served as the Vice Chairman of Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Commissioner for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Political representative for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Liaison between TCOLE and the Asian police officers association Serves on senate sub-committee for Veteran Affairs and Military Institutions (Senator Van de Putt) Chairman of the Vietnam Memorial Walkway at HEARTS Military Museum in Huntsville, Texas Board of Director member of HALO for Freedom Warrior Foundation Consultant volunteer with Health and Human Services Commission, for Dept. of Veteran Affairs Volunteer Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation Former Board of Director member of State Bar of Texas and has served on many other political boards and election teams.
Mr. Kyker received a bachelor's and master's degree in Education from Abilene Christian University and post graduate at Texas A&M.
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, and I am a graduate of the FBI National Academy – Class #264. I am originally from Gastonia, North Carolina, and a 10-year U.S. Navy Veteran. I have been with the Corpus Christi Police Department for 19½ years and have held the rank of Deputy Chief since 2012. I have supervised 1 of 4 Patrol Districts within the city as well as CALEA Accreditation Unit, Crime Reduction Unit, which consists of Bike Unit, Directed Patrol Officers, and Code Enforcement. I currently supervise the Field Training Officer Program, and oversee the Honor Guard and Police Explorers Post #133.
Jessica Canales, originally from Fayetteville, NC, was the child of career military parents, which meant she moved only a "few dozen times," but made it to Texas as soon as she could! Jessica is wife to Bexar County Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Canales and it's what drives her passion to assist law enforcement. Jessica regularly volunteers with nonprofits — The 100 Club of San Antonio and Concerns of Police Survivors. In addition, she serves as a Trustee for the South Texas Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors. Her husband, Deputy Canales, was shot in the line of duty in 2015 and after 7 months of rehabilitation went back to full duty as a K9 Handler. This unfortunate incident only strengthened her passion to help officers injured or killed in the line of duty and the families of those that face similar tragedy. Currently, Jessica works as a Staff Accountant at The Pearl Brewery in San Antonio and during her free time you can find her with her two children Aiden and Claire along with their 5 dogs — some of the perks of being a wife to a K9 handler!
Deputy Joseph Canales has been with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office since 2003 and is currently assigned to the K9 Unit. He was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. Joseph is son to Fallen San Antonio Police Officer Antonio T. Canales, EOW May 18, 1972. Joseph's mother was pregnant with him when his father was killed, so he unfortunately never had a chance to meet his father. Joseph tried other career paths before finally submitting to the "Law Enforcement Bug" and joining the Sheriff's Office. He was previously an EMT and also owned a Karate school. He holds a 4th Degree Black Belt in Shuri Ryu and has put his Martial Arts training to good use in his law enforcement career as a Training Academy Instructor for Defensive Tactics and as a Firearms Instructor. As a K9 Handler, he volunteers for different events throughout Bexar County to educate the public on the importance of the K9's and their duties. In addition, as a surviving child of a fallen officer, Joseph volunteers as a mentor and advocate for mental health for the nonprofits 100 Club of San Antonio and Concerns of Police Survivors. In 2015, Deputy Canales was shot in the line of duty and received the Texas Star Award and a Purple Heart from the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. After 7 months of rehabilitation, Joseph went back to work — full duty. But in his spare time, you can find him enjoying his family, training K9's, and perfecting his Martial Arts.