Collier Building
7811 Burleson-Manor Road
Austin, Texas 78653
(512) 854-9776
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Captain Art Cárdenas is a 23-year veteran of the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, where he has held supervisory assignments in Corrections, Patrol, SWAT (founding member of SWAT), Major Crimes; also worked in Internal Affairs, as well as serving as a DARE officer. He is a graduate of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas and the National Institute of Corrections Executive Excellence Leadership Program.

Captain Cárdenas is the recipient of eight Departmental Commendation Bar awards and a recipient of the Departmental Unit Citation Award and was named Valedictorian of the Basic Peace Officer Class in 1988.

While assigned as Corrections Captain he formed the C-TAC Unit, Bike Patrol Unit, and Security Threat Unit. He also started the original Corrections K-9 program in 1992 and serves as the Commander of the Honor Guard and Coordinator of the Travis County Critical Incident Stress Management Team. He received the TCSO Critical Incident Stress Management 'Employee of the Year' award in 2003 and Deputy of the Year Award in 2005. Captain Cárdenas is also a published author with his dissertations, 'Mentoring our Own' and 'Motivating the Unmotivated Supervisor,' which have been published by the Texas Police Journal. He is also an avid exercise enthusiast who enjoys weight training, running, cycling and also holds several state records in power lifting though the Texas Police Athletic Federation.

Captain Cárdenas is committed to community service at all levels, leadership development and mentoring. He is an avid volunteer to his church, youth boxing and Meals on Wheels, to name a few. He is married and the father of three sons.

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