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TABC presents Medal of Valor to Agent Adrian Herrera; agency recognizes two long-tenured employees
Summary
Agent Adrian Herrera received TABC's medal of valor for intervening in the 2024 Lakewood Church shooting; the commission also honored two employees for long service.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on June 24 presented its Medal of Valor to Agent Adrian Herrera for his actions during a Feb. 11, 2024, mass-shooting incident at Lakewood Church in Houston.
Deputy Chief David Doggett described Herrera's off-duty response: Herrera, serving as a security officer at the church, confronted the shooter and took actions that "prevented further harm to others," Doggett said. Doggett and Chief Ron Swenson praised Herrera's decisive action, noting the agent had received several law enforcement awards, including the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and other honors. Herrera briefly thanked the commission and accepted the medal of valor.
The commission also recognized two long-tenured employees during the meeting. Amanda Fletcher, director of human resources, said the agency altered its service-award policy to recognize total state service and continued to recognize milestone TABC service at 25 years and above at commission meetings.
Fletcher introduced data architect Vic Wynne (30 years' service with the agency; unable to attend) and Jose Serna (25 years' service, Assistant Port Supervisor at the Laredo port of entry). Rick Santare and Director George Stoller joined Fletcher to present Wynne's award; Wynne's supervisor spoke in her stead and praised her longstanding contributions to data services. Serna spoke briefly and thanked the agency for the recognition, noting the changes in operations at ports since he began in 2000.
Why it matters: the valor award recognizes an individual officer's life-saving actions; the service awards illustrate workforce continuity at the agency and highlight long-term staff contributions in IT and port operations.
Ending: Commissioners offered congratulations and remarks of appreciation; no formal action was taken on the awards beyond presentations and recognition.
