Waco, TX – The Waco Police Department announced the promotions of Sergeant Damus Vice and Sergeant Joshua Fischer, recognizing their leadership, professionalism, and dedication to the department.
Sergeant Vice joined Waco PD in January 2018 after completing the A2018 McLennan Community College Police Academy, where he served as class president. He has worked patrol in both East and West Waco, primarily on the midnight shift, and transferred to the Neighborhood Engagement Team (NET) in January 2022.
In NET, Vice focused on community problem-solving, crime prevention initiatives, and innovative engagement strategies, earning certification as a Crime Prevention Specialist. He also served as LETR coordinator for the Special Olympics, coordinated the Faith & Blue Project, acts as a department chaplain, participates in the peer support team, and instructs HEART 911’s Stress Management and Resiliency Training for first responders.
Sergeant Fischer served in the U.S. Army from 1996 to 2005, completing multiple deployments to Bosnia, Panama, Korea, and Iraq, where he earned the Bronze Star and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He joined Waco PD in 2003, starting patrol in 2004, and was promoted to Detective in 2015.
Fischer has served on the department’s SWAT team since 2009 as an Explosive Breacher and has been a certified Polygraph Examiner since 2018, currently serving as Vice President of the Texas Association of Law Enforcement Polygraph Investigators. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, including Rookie of the Year, Officer of the Year, three Medals of Valor, three Meritorious Unit Citations, the Lifesaving Award, and the Master Peace Officer License.
Department officials congratulated both officers on their well-deserved promotions and their continued service to the Waco community.