Division of Administration and Finance
Department of Public Safety
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cindy Granier
Administrative Assistant
713-743-0612
cgranier@uh.edu
UHPD HIRES THREE NEW OFFICERS, PROMOTES TWO OTHERS TO CORPORAL
Houston, Dec. 5, 2013 – The University of Houston Police
Department acknowledged three new officers and two
corporal promotions and unveiled its new badge during a
badge-pinning ceremony on Dec. 2.
New Officers:

Leonard James Ganther II is a native
Houstonian. He graduated from the UHD Law
Enforcement Academy in 2011 where he received
commendations for academics and physical
training. He served as a police officer with the
Dallas County Schools Police Department for a
year and previously served with the Houston
Police Department as a civilian employee for 10 years. He is a volunteer AAU basketball
coach and avid bowler. He chose to work for UHPD because he believes in its mission
statement “to proactively build and strengthen community partnerships and reduce the
unsafe perceptions and the opportunity to commit crime on campus” and wants to
contribute 100 percent to upholding the mission.

Abraham Garcia was born and raised in Rosenberg. While striving toward obtaining a
chemistry degree at Wharton County Junior College, he changed his career path and
went to the Wharton County Junior College Police Academy and graduated in 2012. He
is still attending WCJC and is expected to graduate with his AAS degree in liberal arts
this month. He enjoys helping people and being involved in the community and feels that
law enforcement gives him the opportunity to do that on a daily basis. He feels honored
to serve the UH community and hopes to do so for many years to come.
Amanda Lincoln was born and raised in Angleton. After high school graduation, she
focused on charity work in Brazil, Ireland and Africa. Between her travels, she attended
college all over the Houston region and obtained her EMT and Texas Peace Officer
certificate in 2012. She was a patrol deputy in Brazoria County before coming to UH. She
is honored to protect and serve at a Tier One university.
Corporal Promotions:
Justin Carter was hired by UHPD in August 2012 and began his career as a patrol
officer. One year later, he seized the opportunity for advancement and has become the
department’s youngest officer to receive a promotion to the rank of corporal.
Brandon Whitfield began his employment at UHPD in 2006. During the first six years,
he served as parking enforcement assistant, a security officer, a security supervisor and
a support staff member. In 2012, he was hired as a police officer and later became a
field training officer. He has now been promoted to corporal.
UHPD continually works with the UH community to make the campus a safe place to learn, work
and live. Do not hesitate to call 911 for emergencies or 713-743-333 for non-emergencies.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university
recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best colleges for undergraduate
education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing
world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the
nation’s fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 39,500 students in the most ethnically and
culturally diverse region in the country.