Following in your father’s footsteps can be tough enough when you’re 5’8” and he’s 6’4”. But when your old man is Glen Mayo, a 25-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, a member of the K9 unit, a supervisor on the HPD dive team and a member of the Westchase District patrol? Well, those are some big strides to match. But officer Alex Mayo isn’t fazed – he’s got his own scuba gear, his own Westchase District patrol shift…and a pocketful of Scooby Snacks for his dad’s dog.
From Boy to Man
Getting Tanked Together: HPD officers, fellow dive team members and father and son Glen Mayo (left) and Alex Mayo flash quick smiles while on duty.
After graduating from Cinco Ranch High School, Alex spent four years in the U.S. Army as a sergeant in the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood. He served in Iraq for 12 months as a cavalry scout. That means he was a forward observer, positioning himself in front of his troops to observe and report troop strength and movements of the opposing forces.
“Alex was 13 years old when I started on the force,” Glen said. “At first I didn’t want him to go into police work. I figured after he pulled a tour in Baghdad it didn’t bother me at all,” Glen said.
Alex never considered any careers other than police work. “I decided to pick up the family business,” he said.
He completed the HPD Academy after leaving the Army and now has three years under his belt as an HPD officer, mostly working nights in southwest Houston. The night shift is busy, according to Alex, but he enjoys the pace and the fact that he avoids working in the worst of Houston’s summer heat.
His Westchase District shift is more proactive. He works the Friday night shift in Westchase and enjoys the engagement with citizens and property owners.
Alex has been a certified diver since he was a teenager. So joining HPD’s dive team – alongside his dad – was a logical step. He enjoys the opportunity to help people. He spent several days on dive team duty rescuing people stranded by high water after the April 18 storms in Houston.
“I’m working days and he’s working nights, so about the only time we see each other is when we’re both working on the dive team,” Glen said.
