LOCALS LOVE US: Horseshoe Bay PD’s Chip Leake lets dignity, respect guide him
CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF
HORSESHOE BAY — John “Chip” Leake said there are two characteristics that guide him as a peace officer.“In a professional sense, you have to treat people with dignity and respect to get that back,” said Leake, who works for the Horseshoe Bay Police Department.
The Picayune readers chose Leake, 56, as the best Llano County Law Enforcement Officer in the 2013 “Locals Love Us” awards.
His law-enforcement career spans 34 years. He served 27 years with the Texas Department of Public Safety — 15 years with the highway patrol and 12 years with commercial vehicle enforcement — before going to work for Horseshoe Bay Police Department.
Leake, who is the night-shift commander, has been with the agency for about five years.
“Most of the officers I work with have been retired from other areas and bring a lot of knowledge and experience to the department,” he said.
His parents were among his role models, instilling in him wisdom and ambition.
“My mom was one of these ladies that always told you to treat other people like you would want to be treated yourself. My dad was retired U.S. Navy for 23 years — (serving) in World War II and Korea,” Leake said. “He always wanted to provide a service to his country. He inspired me to take it a step further, go to college.”
After obtaining a degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Leake graduated from police academies in the Austin and Houston areas.
He has lived in Burnet County since 1997. He has one adult son. He and his wife, Joan, have been married for 12 years.
Leake said he believes he has found the ideal location to protect and serve.
“Horseshoe Bay is more community oriented. It’s a beautiful area to work, “ he said. “The citizens appreciate what you’re doing, and we provide the best service we can.”
connie@thepicayune.com