Carneysha Mendoza, Captain of the United States Capitol Police, is the newest member of the Festus R-6 School District Hall of Fame.
Mendoza, a 1998 Festus High School graduate, said she appreciated the honor.
She was selected as the 28th member of the district hall of famer last year, but due to scheduling conflicts, her induction ceremony was postponed to April 12 before the start of the Festus Tiger track meet. Town Invitational.
Link to Superintendent Festus
Luttrell said Mendoza is well deserving of the honor.
“Captain. Mendoza has definitely distinguished herself in each of the four areas of induction into the prestigious R-6 Hall of Fame, which are Achievement, Character, Leadership and Service,” Luttrell said. “His passion for service and lifelong learning is an example that others strive to emulate.”
After high school, Mendoza, 42, from the Washington, DC area, served in the military for four years. She said she could only talk about her military career in general terms due to the sensitive nature of her job.
“I was a soldier in the army,” Mendoza said. “At the time I left the army, I was doing criminal investigations.”
She was part of the Army’s recovery efforts at the Pentagon after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
She joined the Capitol Police in 2002 and currently serves the department as the commander of the Civil Unrest Unit, which oversees protests, responds to civil unrest and handles critical incidents.
“Our agency is unique and I’ve always been proud to be a part of it,” she said.
According to information provided by the school district, Mendoza was honored for her excellence in leadership after a shooting in which several people, including a congresswoman, were injured and, more recently, she was recognized for her leadership during last year’s Capitol riot.
Mendoza said she couldn’t talk about the Capitol riot.
She has also worked on presidential inaugurations, state of the union addresses and dignitary funerals. She has met with the last five presidents, as well as several prominent civil rights leaders.
Additionally, she was able to pay her respects to Rosa Parks when the civil rights icon’s body was laid in the Capitol rotunda, the district reported.
“Being able to pay tribute to him was an honor for me,” Mendoza said.
She said her work was rewarding.
“I love my job. I love helping people,” she said. “In my current role, I have the opportunity to mentor and serve as an example for women in the application of the law.”
Mendoza holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Park University in Parkville.
She has two children – Isaiah, 22, and Christian, 11.
Mendoza said she finally had the chance to return to Festus for her Hall of Fame induction when her youngest son got a spring break from school.
“I came back to visit my sister in Poplar Bluff,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza said her main memories from Festus High were of sports and singing.
“I was here from elementary to high school,” she said. “For high school, my main interests were athletics and the concert choir. I made a lot of friends. On track, I was all-state. I ran the 100, 200, 4×100 (400 meter relay) and 4×200 (800 meter relay). I was in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), concert choir, Advanced French Club and cross-country.
Mendoza said she also enjoys hanging out with her friends at school and in the Twin City area.
“I remember hanging out with friends at Spinning Wheels and walking around Main Street,” she said.
Mendoza said she fondly remembers her track and cross country coaches.
“Most of the time my athletic coaches influenced me,” Mendoza said. “There was coach Karen Biehle, coach Jon Bock, coach Bryant Wright. He was my track and field coach and my cross-country coach. He was mad to run.
Mendoza said her interest in law enforcement began while she was a student in the district.
She lists her role models as family friend and college town police officer Jean Gibbs, who mentored her, and Festus police officer Paul Wilkey, who worked with the Festus School District R- 6.
“I think I was exposed to law enforcement very early in life by my two mentors,” Mendoza said. “With Jean, I haven’t seen too many female officers.”
“Agent Wilkey was a school resource officer who spent a lot of time at school. I would help him with DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).
Wilkey also used a horse in his presentations, Mendoza said. The horse shook his head “No” when asked, “How about drugs?” »
