Dolores (Dee) C. Leal worked in law enforcement for over 25 years. She was happily married to Houston Police Officer, Ernest Leal Jr., who was also known as Blue Santa until his untimely on duty death in 2020.

During her time with the Houston Police Department she worked in various departments including Special Investigations, Narcotics, and as a Homicide Investigator for the Chicano Squad.

After her retirement Mrs. Leal continued working for the community by serving in leadership roles for various non-profit organizations, including:

• Texas Hispanic Council on Aging HPD’s
• Organization of Spanish Speaking Officers (OSSO)
• Mexican American Sheriff's Organization (MASO)
• Hispanic Women in Leadership (HWIL) Hispanic
• Women Network Texas Narcotic Officers
• Association (TNOA) Texas Sheriffs Association
• National Hispanic Professional Organization (NHPO)
• Houston Police Retired Officers Association
• Hispanic Officer of the Year

Mrs. Leal has been given awards for her work in the community by the Mayor's Office, the Houston Police Department Police Chief, the National Hispanic Professional Organization, Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).