In a public gesture honoring a trailblazer, the Houston Police Department hosts a rededication ceremony for one of its patrol stations today, memorializing an officer who broke racial barriers. The Southeast Patrol Station on Mykawa Road, named after Edward J. Stringfellow, is set to be celebrated at 1 p.m. with Houston's Police Chief Troy Finner and HPD staff in attendance, along with Stringfellow's kin.
The ceremony, open to all, will take place outside the station at 8300 Mykawa Road. Arriving by 12:30 p.m. is recommended for those interested in witnessing the historical event. Stringfellow, who joined the force back in 1954, was a product of a segregated Houston Police Department and went on to forge a path for future black officers, retiring after an impactful career in 1980.
Houston PD first dedicated the then-South Police Station to Chief Stringfellow in 1996. The facility's name is carried over to the current Southeast Police Station as a testament to Stringfellow's lasting legacy.
For those who cannot make it in person, HPD has made provisions to follow the proceedings online. The event's live coverage will be available on the department's Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channel. With a life dedicated to service, the rededication serves as a reminder of the progress made in law enforcement diversity, paying homage to one of its early pavers.
