Carneysha Mendoza, a U.S. Capitol Police captain, is the newest member of the Festus R-6 School District Hall of Fame.
Mendoza, a 1998 Festus High School graduate, said she appreciates the honor.
She was selected as the 28th member of the district hall of fame last year, but because of scheduling conflicts, her induction ceremony was delayed until April 12 before the start of the Festus Tiger Town Invitational track meet.
Festus Superintendent Link
Luttrell said Mendoza is well deserving of the honor.
“Capt. Mendoza has definitely distinguished herself in each of the four areas for induction into the esteemed R-6 Hall of Fame, which are achievement, character, leadership and service,” Luttrell said. “Her passion for both service and lifelong learning are an example from which others strive to emulate.”
After high school, Mendoza, 42, of the Washington, D.C., area, served in the Army for four years. She said she can only talk about her military career in general terms because of the sensitive nature of her work.
“I was a soldier in the Army,” Mendoza said. “At the time I left the Army, I was doing criminal investigations.”
She was part of the Army’s recovery efforts at the Pentagon following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S.
She joined the Capitol Police in 2002 and currently serves the department as commander of the Civil Disturbance Unit, which oversees protests, responds to civil unrest and handles critical incidents.
“Our agency is unique and I have always been proud to be a part of it,” she said.
According to information supplied by the school district, Mendoza has been honored for excellence in leadership after a shooting where multiple people, including a congressman, were wounded, and, most recently, she was acknowledged for her leadership during last year’s Capitol riot.
Mendoza said she cannot talk about the Capitol riot.
She also has worked presidential inaugurations, state of the union addresses and funerals for dignitaries. She has met the last five presidents, as well as several prominent civil rights leaders.
In addition, she got to pay homage to Rosa Parks when the civil rights icon’s body laid in state in the Capitol rotunda, the district reported.
“To be able to honor her was an honor to me,” Mendoza said.
She said her work has been gratifying.
“I like my job. I like helping people,” she said. “In my role now, I get the opportunity to mentor and serve as an example for women in law enforcement.”
Mendoza has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Park University in Parkville.
She has two children – Isaiah, 22, and Christian, 11.
Mendoza said she finally got the chance to return to Festus for her Hall of Fame induction when her youngest son got some time off school for spring break.
“I came back to visit my sister in Poplar Bluff,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza said her main memories of Festus High involve sports and singing.
“I was here for elementary school through high school,” she said. “For high school, my main interests were track and concert choir. I made a lot of friends. In track, I was all-state. I ran the 100, 200, the 4x100 (400-meter relay) and the 4x200 (800-meter relay). I was in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), concert choir, Advanced French Club and cross country.”
Mendoza said she also enjoyed spending time with her friends from school and the Twin City area.
“I remember hanging out with friends at Spinning Wheels (roller skating rink) and cruising Main Street,” she said.
Mendoza said she warmly remembers her track and cross country coaches.
“Mostly, my track coaches influenced me,” Mendoza said. “There was Coach Karen Biehle, Coach Jon Bach, Coach Bryant Wright. He was my track coach and cross country coach. He was crazy with the running.”
Mendoza said her interest in law enforcement began while she was a student in the district.
She lists her role models as family friend and University City Police Officer Jean Gibbs, who mentored her, and Festus Police Officer Paul Wilkey, who worked with the Festus R-6 School District.
“I think I was exposed to law enforcement early in life by my two mentors,” Mendoza said. “With Jean, I didn’t see too many female officers.”
“Officer Wilkey was a school resource officer who spent a lot of time at school. I would help him with D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).”
Wilkey also used a horse in his presentations, Mendoza said. The horse would shake its head to say, “No,” when asked, “What do you say to drugs?”