The Rosebud Police Department Many small towns in Texas get a bad reputation when it comes to their Police Departments. There have been several mentioned in songs over the years as nothing more than speed traps or revenue gathering sources for the city. In the last nine months as a Law Enforcement Liaison for the Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA), I have made contacts with many small town police agencies. What I have found are groups of men and women who are genuinely concerned with the public they are sworn to protect. One such example I have found recently is the Rosebud Police Department. The Police Department is under the direction of Chief Jeremiah Shults. Chief Shults is a young man with the idea of improving the quality of life of the citizenry of Rosebud Texas by increasing safety in the town. Chief Shults and his team accomplish this mission through aggressive patrol and traffic enforcement. Chief Shults has an officer assigned to the school zone on Highway 77 every school day for the safety of the children and the busses having to enter the busy highway. Chief Shults and his team also signed up to participate in the national Click it or Ticket Program in May of 2010. After a recent power outage in Rosebud, Chief Shults became concerned with those who rely upon medical equipment for survival. In conjunction with the Fire Department, Chief Shults initiated a program to check on those who are in those situations. This required the police department to contact those in the community and map those locations so those in need could be contacted by an officer or fire fighter. Chief Shults also believes in having a well trained professional police department. In June of 2010 Chief Shults hosted Law Enforcement Advanced DWI/DUI Reporting System (LEADRS), Blood Alcohol Reporting, CR-3 (Crash Investigation) and E-Grants training at the D. Brown Library for local agencies.

The Rosebud Police Department The Police department also has a strong involvement with the school system. The Rosebud – Lott consolidated school district has campuses in Rosebud, Lott and the High School is located in Travis approximately five miles north of Rosebud. Chief Shults, or one of his staff, regularly visits the High School campus in an attempt to develop a relationship with the students. Chief Shults believes developing an early relationship between the students and the Police will assist in creating a law abiding citizen in the future. The department strives to be involved in the community. Every Easter the department in conjunction with the fire department hosts the “Guns and Hoses” Easter egg hunt in the city park. The Chief sits in a dunking booth during the Fourth of July celebration for the “Dunk the Chief” event where the citizens can pay for the chance to dunk the Chief. All proceeds go to help fund the Santa Pal program. There are literally hundreds of agencies across Texas just like this one! They have sworn to protect and serve the people of their community and do so for very little financial compensation. They do the job for the people and for no other reason. So the next time you go through a small community and see an officer on the side of the road, they just might be there for a reason and not to just write tickets. Think about the man or woman inside that car. They may not be making a living wage but are willing to put their life on the line for you. Enjoy the articles and photos that follow. Garry L. Parker Law Enforcement Liaison Texas Municipal Police Association

Rosebud Police and Fire Departments at Rosebud-Lott Elementary School

Rosebud Police and Fire Department Annual Guns and Hoses Easter Egg Hunt