The Houston Police Department recently added a new officer to its roster, and he’s a local man with lots of local law enforcement experience.
Josh Green began working May 15 with the department after he was selected from a pool of five candidates for the position. Green is a Houston native and Houston High School graduate.
Green, 30, worked the past four years with the Cabool Police Department, leading its K-9 program for three years. He previously spent about 4 1/2 years with the Licking Police Department, joining that agency after graduating from the state’s law enforcement academy in Jefferson City in 2008.
“I spent nine years away, and it was time to come home,” Green said. “I feel like God opened this door for us to come home. I’m really excited to be back in Houston.”
Green is a drummer for the worship team at Faith Fellowship. He currently lives in Cabool with his wife, Denay, and daughters, Ember, 6, and Everly, 9 months.
He said he will move his family to Houston in the near future.
“As soon as we get our house sold, that’s what we’re going to do,” Green said.
Doing police work in the same county for more than eight years has allowed Green to become familiar with the Houston officers. He joins the staff with Chief Tim Ceplina, Sgt. Brad Evans, Cpl. David Kidwell, Matt Woodmansee and Greg Ryan.
“I know all theses guys very well from working together on different cases,” he said. “It’s a great group of guys, and I couldn’t talk any more highly of them. I’m looking forward to working with them in the same department.”
HPD had a vacancy after Dustin Hartman transferred to work in a different capacity for the City of Houston. Green was among two applicants interviewed for the job.
“We’re very happy with the selection of Josh,” Ceplina said. “He’s been a good officer in Licking and Cabool and comes to us with several years of experience. And he’s already familiar with our system because the other jurisdictions use the same programs.”
Ceplina said Green’s former chiefs –– Scott Lindsey at Licking and Jerald Sigman at Cabool –– both spoke well of his performance.
“He also comes to us highly recommended by his former chiefs,” Ceplina said. “We’re happy to have him.