Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Raul Granados immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of nine. They made Pasadena, Texas, their home, where he spent his childhood, graduating from Sam Rayburn High School in 1995. Raul took the civil service exam and joined the Pasadena Police Department on October 22, 2001, as a member of the 52nd Academy Class.
After graduating, he served on Night Shift Patrol, during which time he participated with auxiliary units, like Bike Patrol and the Special Response Group (SRG). Over the next several years, Raul gained valuable experience through training, certifications, and assignments in various divisions, including DOT and Narcotics.