Phil was raised in southeast Houston attending school in the Pasadena Independent School District. Growing up, Phil was very active in Future Farmers of America raising livestock to show in the Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo. After graduating from Dobie High School in 1987, Phil attended San Jacinto College majoring in Criminal Justice. In 1990, he accepted a job with the Harris County Sheriff's Office as a civilian jailer. In 1991, Phil graduated from the Sheriff's Academy as a certified peace officer and was assigned to the Detention Bureau.
He left the Sheriff's Office in 1992 and accepted a job with the Harris County Precinct 8 Constable's Office as a patrol deputy. Over the years, he rose through the ranks at Precinct 8, being promoted to Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. In February 2005, Phil was appointed to the rank of Chief Deputy of Precinct 8 where he oversaw the day to day operations of the agency. On June 1, 2011 he was appointed Constable by Commissioner's Court before winning the 2012 election decidedly to keep the position.
"I am proud to have served the citizens of this community for over 31 years and I want to continue serving as Constable. Giving back to this community, keeping our families safe and protecting our streets are my top priorities. I have always striven to build a strong relationship with both the citizens of this community and with the various other law enforcement agencies in our area. As a result, our department receives calls on a daily basis from citizens who know they can count on Precinct 8 to respond quickly to their needs. It is also common for other law enforcement agencies to call on us when they need assistance. I am proud of these partnerships and without a doubt; we have a solid reputation in this community. I intend to keep it that way".
"I entered this leadership position with somewhat of a unique perspective on what the job requires and what is expected of me. This is certainly not the time for an inexperienced leader who does not understand the complexity of running an agency. I have dedicated my career to serving the citizens of Precinct 8 and I believe in leadership through honesty, integrity, professionalism and fiscal responsibility. These are not just words to me but rather are the principles on which I have built my career. I have served over 20 years in a supervisory position, many of which have been in upper management and I know what it takes to run this department and do so effectively."