Kimberly Boniface took the oath as Seabrook's newest police sergeant Tuesday, Sept. 1, capping a decade-long career that has spanned patrol, the courtroom and community outreach.

The Seabrook City Council administered the swearing-in during its regular meeting, according to an official announcement from the city published Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Boniface joined the Seabrook Police Department in January 2016. Since then she has held three distinct roles: patrol officer, bailiff and community engagement officer. She holds a police instructor certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and is one of the department's defensive tactics instructors.

For several years, Boniface has led the department's Rape Aggression Defense program, known as RAD. The course is free. It runs three evenings and teaches women and girls ages 12 and up self-defense techniques such as punches, kicks and strikes, with a focus on situational awareness. Mother-daughter pairs are welcome, according to the department's RAD program page.

RAD is part of a national self-defense education system. In Seabrook, the program gives residents hands-on training led by certified police instructors rather than outside contractors. Boniface, now a TCOLE-certified instructor herself, has been the face of that effort locally.

Police Chief Rolf Nelson highlighted Boniface's record in the city's announcement.

"Sergeant Boniface's leadership, dedication, and tenacity have consistently distinguished her as an exceptional member of our department," Nelson said.

Nelson added that the department is confident Boniface will bring the same determination to her new role as sergeant. No statement from Boniface herself appeared in the city's announcement.

The promotion gives Boniface a supervisory rank after more than 10 years of service. Her career arc from patrol officer to community engagement officer to sergeant tracks a path through several layers of the department's operations, including direct public contact through programs like RAD.

Boniface's new rank also means the officer who built the department's free self-defense program now holds a leadership position within the agency. Whether she continues to run RAD classes as a sergeant was not addressed in the announcement.

Residents interested in signing up for the next RAD course can find registration details and scheduling information on the Seabrook Police Department's website at seabrooktx.gov/743/RAD.