Erik Estrada

Henry Enrique “Erik” Estrada is an American actor, voice actor, and police officer. He is known for his co-starring lead role as California Highway Patrol officer Francis (Frank) Llewelyn “Ponch” Poncherello in the police drama television series CHiPs, which ran from 1977 to 1983. He later became known for his work in Spanish language telenovelas and his appearances in reality television shows.

In 2000, Estrada was named the international “Face” of D.A.R.E. which is a campaign against drugs. He also speaks out for the American Heart Association, the United Way, and the C.H.P. 11-99 Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides benefits and scholarships to California Highway Patrol family members, as well as funeral expenses for fallen officers. Estrada’s experience in CHiPs led him to become a reserve officer for the Muncie Police Department in Muncie, Indiana. Estrada became spokesperson for the C.H.P.’s “car seat inspection and installation” program. He has made numerous appearances supporting automobile child-seat safety checks across the country. He appeared in Española, New Mexico, on May 28, 2009, to promote the “100 Days and Nights of Summer” traffic safety and anti-DWI campaign that involves the New Mexico State Police.

Estrada became a reserve police officer for the Muncie, Indiana Police Department. From there, Estrada went to Virginia, where he was an I.C.A.C. (Internet Crimes Against Children) investigator for eight years in Bedford County, Virginia. As of July 1, 2016, he was a reserve police officer in St. Anthony, Idaho. In the course of his duties, Estrada has been filmed patrolling on a police motorcycle.

Erik has been recognized by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Marshall Service for his dedication and service to protecting children from sexual predators on the internet, and because of his longstanding relationship with the California Highway Patrol, Erik lends his time and support whenever possible to their causes. Erik is now continuing his efforts with the Fredrick County Sheriff and Crimes Against Children Foundation, Inc 501(c)(3) in which to further educate and protect the future of our children.