Vera Bumpers, Chief
Chief Vera Bumpers has served with the Harris County Metro Transit Authority Police Department in Houston, Texas, for more than 30 years.
She was the first woman to work for the agency as well as the first African-American to rise to every rank including sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and assistant chief.
One of her top priorities as Chief has been extending advancement opportunities to other women and minorities within the agency. She also created and instituted the cooperative urban policing model, which focuses on addressing innate bias, peer accountability, and law enforcement responsibility.
She is known for her mission to “even the playing field” in her organization, and agencies beyond. Her peers describe her as a TRUE mentor, a coach, a sister, and a resource to young women on and off the job. Her intentional effort to inspire and motivate others has led to countless testimonials from both women, and men, who have benefited from her selfless contributions towards their development and advancement.
Chief Vera Bumpers is the epitome of a woman leading in a non-traditional role, who has for many years proven her commitment through her actions towards empowering and elevating other women in the field of law enforcement and beyond. With women representing a small percentage of the law enforcement workforce in executive leadership roles, Chief Bumpers has made it her mission to even the playing field in her organization and in agencies across the nation. She has been a true mentor, coach, sister and mother to young women on and off the job. It is truly amazing to witness the intentional effort she places in not just talking the talk but walking the talk as she inspires and motivates others. There are numerous testimonies of men and women who have benefitted from Chief Bumper’s unselfish contributions towards their advancement and development while under her tutelage over the years. Chief Bumpers is the consummate professional, approachable, caring, and is a shining example of a servant for the next generation of law enforcement leaders.
Chief Vera Bumpers has served as the National President of NOBLE, and during her tenure implemented new protocols and initiatives that not only grew the organization but fostered an environment for mentoring and leadership development amongst members and other law enforcement associations. She was also selected to sit on the Board of Directors for the IACP and served on the Women’s Issues Task Force under the leadership of Immediate Past President Cindy Renaud. She continues as an active Board member. Chief Bumpers is an active member of NAWLEE and believes her perspective, and contributions to the goals and objectives of the organization are important towards diversity and inclusion. She has transformed her organization through personal engagement with her officers and staff, ensuring they achieve career development and leadership opportunities. Her philosophy embodies fair and impartial selection, hiring and promotional processes, and equity in assigning personnel to specialized units.
As President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), she implemented a national partnership with the LINKS, Inc. entitled the PEACE Initiative. A roadmap training curriculum to build positive relationships between police and the community to reduce negative police encounters. As an elected officer and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. she has led the implementation of programs focused on STEM, College Scholarships, Social Services and Political Awareness. Through here active membership in the NAACP she contributes on local and national panel discussions related to use-of-force, racial equity, and social justice. As a community leader, Chief Bumpers participates in local coat drives, feed the needy, leads in the sponsorship for back-to-school bags, Coffee With a COP, Turkey Give-Aways, and Shop with a COP events. Implemented Chief for a Day for local youth and children with medical/health challenges.
In addition to her active membership in NAWLEE and NOBLE Chief Bumpers serves as a commissioner on Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Commission Against Gun Violence, the Chair of the Houston Community College Police Academy Advisory Board, and as a board member for the Houston Recovery Center Technical Advisory Group. She is an active member of the International Police Chiefs Association, Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, and Women in Transportation Seminar.
She holds a BA in criminal justice from Texas State University, a MS in education from Prairie View A&M University, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.