Assistant Chief Deputy Manuel F. Zamora, Ph.D.
Assistant Chief Deputy Manuel F. Zamora, Ph.D. commands the Administrative Bureau, including the Gus George Academy, Support Services, and Emergency Management and Communications, Human Resources, Public Information Office and Grants.
Dr. Zamora began his career with the Houston Police Department in 1981 and worked in patrol, criminal investigations, and administrative support. He received scholarships for meritorious service and bravery. This led to completion of undergraduate and graduate degrees in Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Social Work. He received a doctorate degree from the University of Houston after successfully defending his dissertation, The Effect of Crisis Intervention Team Training on Attitudes of Houston Police Officers.
Dr. Zamora authored the grant proposal and contributed toward the design of the $2.0 million Houston Police Real Time Crime Center. He led a Special Response Group field force and mobilized for every major, large-scale event in Houston, including protests and demonstrations, major professional athletic sporting events, hurricanes and natural disasters, parades, and national conventions. In his final assignment, he managed the Planning & Research Section, where he led product and equipment evaluation, program assessment, and the analysis and development of policy.
After honorably retiring, Dr. Zamora was recruited by the Center for Security Studies at Angelo State University to help build Border & Homeland Security undergraduate and graduate degree programs. He and colleagues designed one of the first distance-based, on-line Homeland Security programs in the U.S. Led by Colonel Robert L. Ehlers, (USAF, ret.) Ph.D., he and a research team developed and taught courses in terrorism, human and drug trafficking, ethics, disaster planning and emergency management, justice administration, and international police development.
While teaching, Dr. Zamora served as a reserve captain for Harris County Constable, Pct. 2 and later the Waller County District Attorney’s Office, where he managed violent crime cases. In 2017, he accepted a leadership position with the Waller County Sheriff’s Office, where he attained the rank of Chief Deputy. In this position, Dr. Zamora successfully submitted grant proposals for technology research, STEP, Homeland Security, NRA Foundation, and Office of the Governor grants for interoperable radios and personal protective equipment. Dr. Zamora managed special event deployments and criminal investigations. He holds TCOLE Master Peace Officer certification and is a subject matter expert on violent crime and police policies and procedures. As a graduate of the 180th FBI National Academy, Dr. Zamora maintains professional memberships with IACP, TX Sheriff’s Association, TMPA, and CALEA.
Assistant Chief Deputy Manuel F. Zamora, Ph.D. may be reached by email at Manuel.Zamora@fortbendcountytx.gov .