From the City of Bellaire:
The City of Bellaire is pleased to announce the selection of Assistant Chief of Police Onesimo (Mo) Lopez Jr. as the new Chief of Police. Assistant Chief Lopez will succeed Chief of Police Byron Holloway upon his retirement in July of this year.
Assistant Chief Lopez has served with the City of Bellaire since January 2019 after a nationwide search for a candidate to serve as an effective Assistant Chief and meet the qualifications needed to be appointed Chief of Police. Lopez previously worked with the Pearland Police Department for 24 years. His wealth of experience brings a deep understanding of police organization management and leadership, and he believes in ongoing community engagement.
When notified of the appointment, Assistant Chief Lopez stated he was excited for the opportunity to build upon Chief Holloway’s legacy and his commitment to the Bellaire community. He added, “I am excited to be a part of the next chapter of Bellaire’s history and to serve alongside a team of talented professionals who share a commitment to public service and excellence in serving the City of Bellaire. I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Police Chief Byron Holloway stated, “I am very excited for the Department and the community that Assistant Chief Lopez (Mo) has been named to replace me. This has been a long succession process, and Mo has proven himself every step of the way. He is an innovative leader that is more than capable of managing the upcoming challenges the law enforcement profession will face in the future.”
Interim City Manager Brant Gary stated, “During my current and previous tenure with the City of Bellaire, it has been my pleasure to work with the Bellaire Police Department. I am appreciative of Chief Holloway and his ongoing support during the selection process. He provided the background and details of the process to appoint Assistant Chief Lopez to his current position. It was also necessary to consider Assistant Chief Lopez’s performance with the City of Bellaire and his overall fit for the position of Chief of Police. I am pleased to announce that Assistant Chief Lopez has demonstrated the character, skills, demeanor, and commitment to public service for what is needed to lead the Bellaire Police Department in the coming years as Chief of Police. Our congratulations go out to Chief Holloway on his upcoming retirement and Assistant Chief Lopez on his new role as Chief moving forward. I am excited to work with “Chief Lopez” as we all continue to proudly serve the citizens of Bellaire.”
Assistant Chief Lopez has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and is a graduate of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas Leadership Command College located at Sam Houston State University. He is certified as a Master Peace Officer by the State of Texas and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. In early 2020 he attended the FBI National Academy for premier law enforcement training. There he was able to interact and network with law enforcement professionals from across the nation, thus learning policing techniques from many different perspectives. Assistant Chief Lopez has been married to his wife Faby for twenty-four years, has four children and four grandchildren.
Please help us congratulate Assistant Chief Lopez on his promotion. He will be sworn in as Chief of Police for the City of Bellaire on August 2, 2021.
