About our Speakers

Vera Bumpers
Chief of Police

“We value diversity and believe in treating everyone with respect and dignity. Our goal is to provide professional, fair,
and impartial law enforcement services to the entire community.”

— Vera Bumpers

Vera Bumpers is METRO’s chief of police.

She has been with the department for more than 35 years and has been a pioneer from the beginning. Chief Bumpers is the first woman to lead MPD and is the first woman to have been promoted in every single rank. MPD is a full-time, full-service agency made up of more than 276 sworn Texas Peace Officers and more than 125 civilian staff members. Chief Bumpers and all the men and women of MPD are focused on keeping METRO’s transit system moving safely and securely for all customers. They are also committed to maintaining cooperative working relationships with all law enforcement agencies within the METRO service area. Chief Bumpers has been widely recognized both locally and nationally for her leadership.

She is a past National President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), has been featured in the African American Newspaper and Houston Women Magazine, and was honored as a 2016 Top 50 Black Professional and Entrepreneur and Top 30 Houston Influential Woman. She is also the recipient of the 2015 Trailblazer Award from the Women in Transportation Seminar.

Mark D. Hubenak

Public Safety Director

Westchase District

Mark Hubenak, Public Safety Director for the Westchase District is responsible for directing the activities of Westchase District’s public safety programs and initiatives.

Mark is an active member of the Texas Crime Prevention Association (TCPA), the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) and serves on the WHMUD 11 Board of Directors. Mark has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Crime Stoppers of Houston Advisory Board, the City of Houston Public Safety Advisory Committee, and the Houston Police Department Advisory Committee. Mark was recognized by the Texas Crime Prevention Association as Outstanding Crime Prevention Specialist and Outstanding Crime Prevention Manager.

Mark is a native Houstonian and was raised in West Houston. He has two children, son Devin, and daughter Haley

Tim Whitaker began his career with the Houston Police Department in January of 1986.  He has been assigned to the Westside station his entire career. For 24 years Tim trained/evaluated over 200 probationary police officers. After 33 years on patrol Tim decided to move to the Community Service/DRT Unit at the Westside station.

In 2012 Tim was appointed to a vacant Houston Police Officers Union seat and since then has been elected Vice President. Tim is the President of Houston Officers Peer Assistance; the Union’s peer support program and the Chairman of Assist the Officer (Houston). Tim was appointed to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement by Governor Abbott in 2017 and to the Star of Texas Award Advisory Committee in 2022.

Tim is a member and works on the Security Team at Second Baptist Church.