Howard Sylve III has been named Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police at Wiley College.

Howard Sylve has over 30 years of law enforcement and criminal justice experience. A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Sylve’s career began in 1990 when he participated in his high school’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (J.R.O.T.C.) and the Youth and Government Program. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 302 Military Police Company as a sergeant.

Before his reserve unit was activated for war, Sylve enrolled in Houston Community College’s Basic Peace Officer Academy in 2000. In Spring 2001, he graduated as “Top Cop,” which is the highest honor given to the top cadet in all areas. On July 16, 2001, he began his career with the Prairie View A&M University Police Department, fulfilling his lifelong dream of being a police officer.

In 2009, while working for the Houston Community College Police Department, Sylve decided to pursue a degree in criminal justice. He obtained an associate’s degree in criminal justice in 2012 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Prairie View A&M University in 2015.

Following a brief criminal justice teaching position at Remington College in Houston, in 2017, he
was appointed Deputy/Administrative Assistant, assigned to the Training & Personnel Division of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

On June 1, 2020, Sylve commenced duties as Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police to establish Wiley College’s first Police Department.

Throughout his career, he has worked for several agencies in various roles from Patrol Officer,
Criminal Investigator, Captain, and Chief of Police.

He holds a Master Peace Officer Certification through the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement.

Throughout his law enforcement career, he has obtained his Basic Instructor Certification, Firearms Instructor Certification, Hostage Negations Certification, License to Carry Instructor Certification, O.C. Spray Instructor Certification and P.P.C.T. Defense Tactics Instructor Certification, among others. He is currently in pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Human Science at Prairie View A&M University.

Join us in welcoming Chief Sylve to the Wiley family!