West Lake Hills City Council swore in two new officers for the West Lake Police Department at a Jan. 24 meeting.
The gist
Police officers Ethan Atencio and Joseph Stephens took the ceremonial oath of office to join the West Lake Hills Police Department.
West Lake Hills Police Chief Scott Gerdes said Atencio is a returning officer to the department, having left for six months to work for Texas State University. Atencio, however, wanted to return to the West Lake Hills Police Department, Gerdes said.
Stephens has three years of experience working for the Hays County district attorney’s office as an investigator, Gerdes said. Prior to that, Stephens worked as a police officer for 29 years in Pasadena, Texas, Gerdes said.
What else?
The West Lake Hills Police Benevolent Foundation helps to support local police officers, said Brad Weatherford, West Lake Hills resident and Vice President of the local foundation.
The local chapter of the foundation was formed in 2022 to:
- Assist officers and their families with unplanned medical expenses due to accidents, natural disasters or other unavoidable causes
- Support public safety education, projects and programs in the community
- Improve the officers’ lives, health, morale, performance and safety
- Aid the families of fallen peace officers in their greatest time of need
Donations can be:
- Dropped off at the West Lake Hills Police Station, located at 911 Westlake Drive, West Lake Hills
- Mailed to Cathy Hoover, a foundation board member and executive director of the Westlake Chamber of Commerce: Westlake Chamber of Commerce, Attn: Cathy Hoover, 101 Westlake Drive, West Lake Hills.
