Search for new Horseshoe Bay fire and police chiefs underway
CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF
HORSESHOE BAY — Horseshoe Bay is preparing to hire replacements for its fire and police chiefs after one agency leader recently resigned and the other is retiring, officials say.
Police Chief Bill Lane is expected to announce his retirement after 16 years with the department.
“Bill Lane, our police chief, while it has not been officially announced, word has gotten out he will be retiring at the end of this fiscal year, at the end of September,” Mayor Steve Jordan said. “He has been grooming Rocky Wardlow, the assistant police chief, to step into his position, and I think the council is very comfortable with that move.”
Lynn “Rocky” Wardlow, a retired Texas Ranger, started as a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper in Shamrock and served in Granbury, Corpus Christi and Bastrop.
He had worked as a Texas Ranger in Llano in 2008 before joining the Horseshoe Bay Police Department.
Wardlow was one of four retired Texas Rangers hired by Lane during his tenure as chief.
“I have a wonderful staff of dedicated officers and dispatchers. We enjoy tremendous community and council support, and I can think of no better place on Earth to wrap up a 45-year law enforcement career than in Horseshoe Bay,” Lane said in a statement. “My family and I will continue to reside here, and I plan to remain involved and active within the community and area and will also announce, at a more appropriate date, exactly what those plans consist of.”
Should the proposed replacement be approved by the council, Wardlow’s first official day as chief would be Oct. 1, 2015.
In the Horseshoe Bay Fire Department, Jim Fiero submitted his resignation April 7 to the city council.
The council approved a 90-day severance package, according to council records.
“We discussed the prospect of selecting a committee made up of six persons: two of the city staff members, two council persons, the city manager and me, the mayor,” Jordan said in regard to finding a new fire chief.
Officials are expected to consider a possible selection committee May 19.
Assistant Fire Chief Stephanie Black was named the interim fire chief.
connie@thepicayune.com