ELPD celebrates additions, completed training

EAGLE LAKE — The Eagle Lake Police Department celebrated some milestones over the past week as they welcomed a new member to the force and celebrated two current members completing further training in the field.

The Police Department bolstered their numbers with the addition of Officer Mario Alcala Reyes on Friday morning, Feb. 2. His official swearing in with Mayor Tim Kelley and Chief Donald Chaney gave the ELPD another experienced member to join their ranks.

Reyes joins the department after 20 years of law enforcement experience and as a volunteer firefighter.

With years of service experience plus the added danger of being a firefighter, Reyes provides a strong presence for the force and makes for a solid addition to Eagle Lake’s enforcement.

A few other officers also helped bolster the force in Eagle Lake as they advanced their own abilities during the 21st Texas Sergeant Academy.

Sergeants Patrick Gonzales and Dustin Blackburn completed a twoweek program taught by the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration and assisted by the Texas Municipal League Risk Pool. The program is intended to help train enforcement supervisors and increase attending officers’ understanding of leadership in the context of being a protector of the peace.

With Gonzales and Blackburn’s successful completion of the program, they increased their abilities to effectively assist the community and opened doors for their own potential advancement and leadership.

Eagle Lake recognized each of these policemen for their progress as law enforcement members and showed appreciation for their service to the community.