A Small Tidbit of

 O.S.S.O History

In 1978 several Hispanic members of the Houston Police Department (HPD) explored the need to create an official organization that could advocate the needs and welfare of current and future HPD officers. On April 8, 1981 the creation of “The Houston Police Organization of Spanish Speaking Officers” (O.S.S.O.) was formalized and chartered under the State of Texas non-profit rules and regulations. An Executive Board of Directors was elected, our OSSO logo was created and the rest is history.

In 1985, Osso drafted the original bilingual bill, successfully lobbied the state legislature, and was signed into law by then Governor Mark White. This legislation allowed municipalities of over 1 million inhabitants to pay police officers who utilized their bilingual skills in the performance of their duties. O.S.S.O. overcame many obstacles and prevailed and ultimately secured bilingual pay for all qualifying officers.

In 1987, O.S.S.O. drafted the original permissive legislation that allowed shift differential pay for police officers and successfully passed it.

In 1989, O.S.S.O. drafted the original legislation that allowed United States military veterans, honorably discharged from the branches of the armed services, to apply and participate in the Houston Police Academy’s cadet training program and become Houston Police Officers. Their military service is now accepted in lieu of the required 60 hours college credit.

In 1989, the Houston Police Department administration requested O.S.S.O. to join other organizations to pursue the passage of legislation, which would allow the Chief of Police the privilege to appoint Assistant Chiefs to their positions. This process abolished the civil service written examination, which had been used to promote captains to deputy chiefs of police. Assistant Chiefs could now be nominated by the Chief of Police and confirmed by a majority vote of the city council. The intent of this legislation was to enhance the Chief’s ability to have a more diverse command staff. This was a historical first for HPD and the City of Houston.

In 1991, O.S.S.O. together with the African American Police Officers League (AAPOL), helped form “the Houston’s Black and Brown Coalition” (a coalition of African American and Hispanic elected and appointed civic and community leaders) and was successful in assisting HPD to promote the first two Hispanic Assistant Chiefs of Police.

O.S.S.O. continues to support several community projects such as the Blue Santa program, Navidad en el barrio, which was founded by one of the O.S.S.O. members and has since grown to accommodate thousands of needy children since its inception. In collaboration with the schools we assist in the mentor programs in Houston and Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) a Houston ISD tutoring program. O.S.S.O. also has delivered turkeys and hams during Christmas time to needy families who lived in the barrios and in low-income projects. O.S.S.O. has developed a scholarship program for its member’s families and continues to strive for larger awards by raising funds.

O.S.S.O. was also instrumental in implementing the cultural diversity training courses at the Houston police academy. These courses are now required by TCLEOSE and must be taught to all law enforcement officers.

On April 8, 2006, O.S.S.O. celebrated its 25^th anniversary of existence and hosted an awards and recognition banquet for its members and is still going strong.

On December 24^th, 2008, a small but brave group of O.S.S.O. members, following a favorable ruling from the EEOC, filed a lawsuit against the City of Houston in what is proving to be another historical O.S.S.O. landmark event. This small group of brave officers are seeking restitution and justification for years of exploitation of their Spanish speaking abilities and hard work in which they were never truly appreciated in terms of recognition and salary. A favorable ruling in this legal battle will prove fruitful not only to current and future OSSO officers but to all law officers as well. 

July 2008, The endeavors of the O.S.S.O. cookbook publication are but a small part of the overall effort to assist in the continued challenge of seeking fair and impartial recognition for O.S.S.O. membership as well as all law enforcement officers. This cookbook is also in addition to all the listed accomplishments: an O.S.S.O. first, the first of its kind created for and by its members. God Bless all the brave and dogged Officers who are paving the way for all our brothers and sisters. Godspeed. 

March 2009

O.S.S.O.'s first female President Rosalinda R. Ybanez was elected!!!! A second accomplishment was that she is also the first hispanic female in Texas history to be elected as the leader of a major police union. O.S.S.O. is about 400 members strong. The Texas House of Representatives acknowledged and honored her accomplishment in House Resolution 2114, written by State Representative Carol Alvarado. see Carols Bio just click on http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist145/alvarado.php.

Let's keep striving to do our best and put O.S.S.O. on the charts where it should be.... 

The information was contributed by Richard "Rico" Garcia and Dolores "Dee" Leal.

Los Links Favoritos de O.S.S.O.

http://www.hpfcu.org/ The Houston Police Federal Credit Union

http://www.hpou.org/index.cfm/ The Houston Police Officers Union

http://www.houstontx.gov/police/index.html

http://www.hpdsoundoff.com/  Houston Police Soundoff

https://www.hpops.org/index.asp 

http://www.nlpoa.org/  National Latino Police Officers Association

http://www.hapcoa.org/   Hispanic Association Police Command Officers Association

http://www.maldef.org/  The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund

http://maso1984.org/  The Mexican American Sheriffs Organization of Harris County

http://www.grandlodgefop.org/  Fraternal Order of Police

http://www.aapol.org/home/default.asp  African American Police Officers League

http://texaspolicegames.org/ Texas Police Games

www.apbweb.com/ American Police Beat

http://www.warriorsciencegroup.com/leadership.html

MASO Extra Job Hotline

713-841-JOBS