Grateful for their work from the routine to the extreme
Some people think law officers, both our sheriff’s office and police department, sit around like Andy Griffith and Don Knox in Mayberry and wait for mild issues to arise. And given our tourist destination as an alcohol outpost, driving under the influence takes up a fair amount of their time to be sure.
But as a story on a man transporting bomb materials illustrated last week, our law officers and patrolmen face all kinds of cases that are dangerous. The bomb materials were detonated with help from the San Antonio Police Department’s Bomb Squad with after being informed of the discovery by the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office.
Unusual events like this warrant much caution, bravery and good sense. The area was immediately sealed off and assistance called. Fredericksburg Police, Fredericksburg Fire EMS, Fredericksburg Public Works Department and County Commissioner Don Weinheimer were all on hand to assist.
Also involved were the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. As they conduct the investigation, additional information has been limited.
Once work is done to move City Hall to the former Hill Country University Center building, freeing up space in the Main Street building, locals will also notice an increased police presence downtown.
Occasionally, our lawmen and women also deal with issues that can seem humorous, like responding to a naked person making threats in recent weeks. One lawman assured us those are never as funny as they seem like they would be.
And those officers and deputies also deal with plenty of issues involving mental health crises, some of which can turn violent or tragic.
We’re grateful to Sheriff Buddy Mills for all of his work over the past decade-plus, and for his work as a Game Warden before that.
Voters chose his opponent, Chris Ayala, in the Republican primary in May. He is unopposed in the general election. We wish Ayala the best.