Deputy Chief Juan Cedillo grew up watching shows like “Cops,” knowing from a young age he wanted to be a first responder.
A graduate of W.H. Adamson High School, Cedillo often found himself drawn to the campus officers who patrolled the hallways.
“Officer Sam Mara was with Dallas ISD police for about 40 years before he passed away,” Cedillo said. “He was my greatest mentor.”
Inspired by those early connections, Cedillo joined the Dallas ISD Police Department after graduating from the police academy, aiming to pay it forward.
“Some of my former students when I was assigned to go back to Adamson are now officers at Dallas ISD,” he said. “Just helping them is my greatest achievement.”
Now with 24 years of service under his belt, Cedillo plays a key role in Unidos, a Hispanic community outreach program founded in 2018 to support Spanish-speaking families within Dallas ISD.
Cedillo says the program helps build trust where it’s often been lost.
“A lot of Hispanic people are afraid to approach law enforcement because there’s often corruption in their home countries,” Cedillo said. “We let them know that we’re here to help.”
Myrna Mendez has two children who graduated from W.T. White High School. She now has five grandchildren at F.P. Caillet Elementary School. During this time, she developed a close bond with Deputy Chief Cedillo and Unidos.
“I have so much respect for Sergeant Simon Tapia and Deputy Chief Cedillo,” Mendez said. “They have been the pillars of Unidos ISD.”
Unidos hosts meetings and events throughout the year, offering community members access to resources, legal information, and most importantly, a safe space to ask questions and voice concerns.
“Having those conversations gives families a sense of belonging and peace of mind knowing their child is safe,” Cedillo said. “Or if their child gets into trouble, they know they can call one of us to give them resources or mentor their child.”
He speaks from experience, reflecting on an instance where a worried parent reached out to him because their student was going down the wrong path.
“Just talking to the kid, he ended up going to Southern Methodist University, and he’s now an attorney,” Cedillo said.
For Cedillo, that story is what Unidos is all about, creating opportunities and connections students might not have known were available to them.
For more information on Unidos, visit the Dallas ISD Police Department’s website.
