Badillo, Phillip, SGT

Phillip E. Badillo was born in Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama in 1943.  He was raised in Satsuma, Mobile County, Alabama where he attended and graduated from Satsuma High School in 1962.  Immediately after high school he joined the United States Army and received his training as a soldier and a construction equipment operator.  He served honorably until May of 1965 when he was given his Honorable Discharge having reached the rank of Specialist 4.

 After the Army, he worked as a salesman for the Gulf Oil Corporation before moving to Baytown in May of 1967.   While living in Baytown he worked for several different construction companies but had a strong interest in becoming a Police Officer.  He applied to the police department while working at the Humble Gas Station, then located at Midway and N. Main.  He was hired by the Baytown Police Department on November 12, 1968, despite being listed as ten pounds underweight by civil service standards.

 He worked patrol and received his Basic Peace Officer’s Certificate in 1970 and in 1972 was assigned to train new officers to “work the street”.  This being before a formal field training program, his role was to educate new officers on the proper techniques and professionalism needed for both survival and everyday police work.

In 1976, Phillip earned his Intermediate Peace Officer’s Certificate.  A year later he was selected to attend the first formal class involving Field Training procedures for new officers.

 Phillip was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1981 and was assigned as a shift Supervisor.  He supervised teams of officers as they worked their daily shifts on the street.  He was responsible for answering officer’s questions, evaluating officer’s reports as well as all other assigned duties.  He regularly answered calls for service with his officers and they looked upon him as a leader.  It was understood that when officers worked for Phillip, he expected the best professional performance possible.  Officers knew that Phillip would support officers working under his command.

In 1982 Phillip earned his Advanced Peace Officer’s Certification and the following year he obtained his Instructor’s certificate through TCLEOSE. In 1984 he earned his NAPD Driving Instructor Certification and in 1992 became the Baytown Police Training Coordinator.  During his years in this assignment, Phillip was privileged to host and coordinate several Basic Peace Officer Academies.  Over the years, many Police Cadets started their career learning “Police Work” from Phillip and some of those are current high ranking Commanders in the Baytown Police Department.  In 1995 he received his Master Peace Officer’s Certification, which is the highest offered by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education.

 Phillip has accomplished many personal goals during his career.  One that he is most proud of took place in 1984.  He was one of the founders of the Baytown Police Honor Guard.  This program is still in operation within the Baytown Police Department and is constantly recognized for their professionalism and excellence.

Other accomplishments are the refurbishing of the Baytown Police Range, and the building of the Robert P. Merchant Police Academy, both of which are modern, well recognized facilities that came into being under his command.

 During his over 38 years of dedicated service to both the Baytown Police Department and the citizens of Baytown, Phillip has collected a wide array of accolades.   He has also been awarded by his department the Honorable Conduct Medal w/ Gold Star device indicating over 35 years of honorable service, the Emergency Service Ribbon with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, for extended service in two major disasters, and the Armed Forces Service Ribbon.