Pub Theology Online w/ Sheriff Javier Salazar & Dr. Jerry Taylor
“Creating Real Reform & Racial Equity in Law Enforcement and Our Community”

How can people of faith be agents of real change?
How can our community support policies that will be long lasting and create reform?

About Sheriff Salazar:
Sheriff Javier Salazar was sworn into office with Bexar County Sheriff’s Office on January 1, 2017. Prior to being elected, Sheriff Salazar served with the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) for twenty-three years.

Sheriff Salazar joined the SAPD at the age of 21, first as a patrolman, then in Downtown Bike Patrol as well as one of the first members of the SAFFE Unit. He promoted through the ranks of the SAPD and served in Narcotics, the Executive Protection Detail and the office of the Chief. He then became an Internal Affairs Investigator and in 2012 served as the Director of Communications. His last assignment at the SAPD was Director of the Department’s Integrity Unit.

As a Bexar County native, Sheriff Salazar graduated from Samuel Clemens High School, attained his Associates Degree in criminal justice from the Alamo Community College District, and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Wayland Baptist University. He also holds a Master Peace Officer Certification from Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Sheriff Salazar serves various nonprofit organizations such as the Alamo Youth Center and is currently the national vice president of the Hispanic American Police Commanders Officers Association.

He has been married to his wife Sarah for nineteen years and is the proud father of two daughters.

Dr. Jerry Andrew Taylor, Founding Director of the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies & Spiritual Action, is Associate Professor of Bible, Missions and Ministry at Abilene Christian University.

In 1984 he received a Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas. In 1988 Dr. Taylor received a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and went on to complete his doctorate in ministry at Perkins School of Theology in 1995.

Prior to moving to Abilene Dr. Taylor and his family served in the Bankhead area of the inner city of Atlanta, Georgia. On top of serving as the Director of the Carl Spain Center, Dr. Taylor travels extensively speaking on college campuses, conferences, and retreats. He is the author of “Courageous Compassion. He has began many initiatives such as the New Wineskins Retreat, the National Freedom in Christ Conference, the Young Scholars Retreat, and most recently the Racial Unity Leadership Summit (RULS) and RULS Spiritual Retreat.

He is married to Patricia (Bowden) Taylor formerly of Houston, Texas. They have been married for 26 years and have two children, Alisha (25) and Jeremiah (19). The Taylor family lives in Abilene, Texas.