Nov 2023. Blues Vol 39 No. 11

seldom sees a day that he’s not making a car
deal with an officer, lieutenant, sergeant or chief
from police agencies across the state. Retired
HPD Officer Johnny Sessums was driving a Jeep
he bought from Helfman as he was en-route to a
West Texas deer camp. Sessums detailed his work
with Helfman, saying that he and Dr. Al Barringer
took the steps to set up a police academy at the
Houston Community College System in 1988, firmly
establishing the school’s criminal justice program.
A few years passed with Barringer (father of
HPD Officer Jay Barringer) and Sessums wanted to
take the program “to the next level.” They needed
someone who knew both the politics involved and
the ability to create the proper business plan and
a funding mechanism. “Alan devised a business
plan and got support from the community and the
(HCCS) board,” Sessums recounted. “He rolled the
fire training part of it into the plan and designed
the complex that involved SWAT training situations
and paint ball tactics.”
In addition, Helfman helped set up the financ-
The BLUES 71
The BLUES 71