Short bios of the Italy Police Department employees are included here. These bios were written by each member of the Italy PD in hopes of letting the community know a little more about them.

Shawn Martin, Police Chief

I moved to Texas from St. Louis, Missouri in 2001. I started with the Burleson Police Department as a Police/Fire Dispatcher. I received my Basic Tele-communicator License and I also became a Training Dispatcher where I taught new Dispatchers. In 2003 I received the Civilian Employee of the Year award. In 2004, I went into the Police Academy at North Central Texas Council of Government in Arlington. I graduated from the Police Academy in November 2004. I then started on patrol for Burleson Police Department. I worked as a midnight patrol officer. I also was a part of the Hostage Negotiations Team where I had been a part of multiple callouts with the SWAT team. In 2011, I joined the Italy Police Dept. I was promoted to Corporal in 2012. While as a Corporal, my duties included being in charge of the Reserve program, vehicle maintenance and over the department’s forms while still maintaining the normal patrol duties. In 2013, I was then promoted to Sergeant after the previous Sergeant had resigned. My duties as Sergeant was a little more administrative as I was to approve reports, maintain the Officer’s schedules and do whatever else was assigned to me by the Police Chief while still doing my normal patrol duties. In July of 2014, I was promoted by the City Council as the Police Chief. While as my role increased more as an administrator, I still like to respond to calls and will patrol the streets. Being from St. Louis, Missouri, I am a diehard Cardinal fan. I bleed Cardinal-red through and through. I am a baseball fan at heart but I truly enjoy all types of sports and being competitive.

Daniel Pitts, Sergeant

Sergeant Pitts began working for the Italy Police Department in September 2009. He attended the Navarro College Police Academy in Waxahachie just prior to his employment with the department. He has served as a patrol officer, K9 officer, field training officer and as an investigator. He has attended multiple classes on highway interdiction and continues to expand his education. He was promoted to sergeant in 2014. He is a huge Dallas Cowboys fan but enjoys multiple sports.

Michael Stevens, Corporal

Officer Stevens began serving in 1995 as a United States Marine with the 3rd Light Armored Recognizance Battalion. He later obtained his undergraduate degree in theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and served a small Dallas congregation as senior pastor for 8 years.

Officer Stevens began his law enforcement career at Cedar Valley Law Enforcement Academy in 2008. He then worked as a reserve and later a full time patrol officer at Milford Police Department. While reserving for Milford, he worked for the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department as a detention officer from June 2009 to June 20010. Officer Stevens joined the Italy Police Department full time in February 2013 to present and was recently promoted to Corporal in October 2014. Officer Stevens still reserves for the City of Milford where he resides.

Guy Saxon, Patrol Officer

Officer Guy Saxon was born and raised in Ennis, Texas. There he married his high school sweetheart and they are raising three teenage boys. Fifteen years after graduating from Ennis High School, Officer Saxon decided to change careers and become a Police Officer. Officer Saxon enrolled at Navarro College Police Academy. Officer Saxon was his class Top Shot. Officer Saxon made Italy Police Department his home in February of 2014. Officer Saxon was Rookie of the Year 2014 for Italy PD.

Sam Click, Patrol Officer

Officer Click began working for the Italy Police Department in August of 2014. He graduated from Hill College Police Academy in December 2013. Officer Click enjoys watching sports. Officer Click is looking forward to the opportunities that the Italy Police Department has to offer him and the future of his police career.

Jason Cherry, Patrol Officer

I am William “Jason” Cherry and I am a police officer for the Italy Police Department. I have been a police officer since 2011. When I begun my commission at the Palmer Police Department. Before I was a Police Officer I worked at the Dallas Morning News for 9 years as a quality control/training coordinator. I am married with three beautiful children. I am an avid golfer and enjoy my Saturdays watching the Texas Longhorns and also on Sunday’s watching the Cowboys.

Sue Lauhoff, Police Secretary

My name is Sue Lauhoff. My husband and I moved here from Kansas City, Missouri in 2003. I am a University of Missouri football fan and also Kansas City Royals baseball fan.

I started working for the Italy Police Department as a volunteer in February 2005. I was hired on with the department in April 2005 and have worked as the department secretary. In August 2009, I was changed to part-time for three months, then again hired on full time in October 2009. My duties are record keeping, typing letters for the department, keeping up to date calendars for the officers and for the wrecker services. I download videos of the patrol cars and record the stops if necessary; also report UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) to the State of Texas (with the Chief’s help), I process paperwork that needs to go to the District Attorney’s office when people are arrested. Videos of the stops are also taken to the DAs office.

I was responsible, with the former chief, and all police officers at Italy PD, for being recognized in the Texas Police Chiefs Association and became a member in March 2014. It took almost 1-1/2 years to complete all requirements and to get approval from the Association before being recognized.

This year I plan to attend a class for Basic Record Training and pursue bringing records up to date.

Also, I will pursue the R.U.O.K. program again this year. It was not very successful last year but I’m hoping it will turn around this year. I feel we can help by presenting the program to the elderly, disabled and others who would like to have us check on them when they request it. Forms are at the police department to complete, or call us at 972/483-6414, ext 200, and we will bring one to you.