"There is no substitute for real life experience."
Dr. Demetrick “Tre” Pennie was raised in the inner-city of Houston, Texas during the height of “America’s War on Drugs,” which was marked by high levels of gun violence and the crack cocaine epidemic.
At the age of 16, he witnessed the shooting death of his female cousin the day before her wedding, which motivated him to pursue a career in law enforcement. This led him to join the U.S. Army in 1995, where he attended college off-duty and graduated with an Associate Degree in Administration of Justice from Honolulu Community College.
After serving four years in the military, Tre aspired to continue his life in public service, which led him to join the Dallas Police Department in 1999. During his 22 years of service, he rose to the rank of police sergeant while also earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Midwestern State University, a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Prairie View A&M University, and a Doctorate Degree in Higher Education from Texas Tech University, earning status as one of America’s top 2% of scholars in 2017.
Tre believes that education and civic duty are transformative forces that can change lives, and he has put this philosophy into practice by serving as a university professor for several years, publishing numerous articles on public safety, and appearing on national news outlets. As the President of the National Fallen Officer Foundation, he has become a leading voice in bridging the gap between the police and communities across the country while advocating for “fallen officers” and public safety.
Tre has been featured in numerous media publications. He has also appeared on several news shows including the Sean Hannity Show and Fox & Friends offering commentary on issues impacting crime and public safety.
In 2016, subsequent to the shooting attack in Dallas, Texas that claimed the lives of five police officers, Tre shocked the world when he filed a federal lawsuit against Black Lives Matter, President Barack Obama, George Soros, and others for inciting violence against police. Additionally, in 2017, he sued Facebook, Google and Twitter for mismanaging their platforms and facilitating riots and attacks on police officers nationwide while hiding behind immunity protections offered under the 1996 Communications Decency Act.
Over the years, Tre has remained politically active and has developed significant relationships in support of his nationwide advocacy. In 2018, he was considered for a Presidential Appointment to the White House. In 2020, as an active police officer, he ran for U.S. House in Texas Congressional District 30 to more directly impact the community he worked in.
Tre has consulted for political leaders on public safety policy. He has also been called to testify as an expert witness before the U.S. House Judiciary and the U.S. Senate Judiciary on issues impacting public safety and law enforcement. In February of 2023, Tre was instrumental filing an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court to regulate social media and stop online radicalism.
Tre is well aware of the partisan gridlock in Washington, D.C. and knows what it takes to work across the aisle to get things done for the American people. He is committed to serving as a voice for the people of Texas Congressional District 3 and will fight aggressively for their interests as a true conservative, educator, and law enforcement advocate. Tre is principled in his beliefs and he refuses to be swayed by special interests and partisans that seek to marginalize and take advantage of the People’s vote.
