By George Slaughter
Mayor Chuck Brawner, right, honors retiring Katy Police Chief Bill Hastings at City Hall – George Slaughter photo
Hastings is the third police chief in Katy’s history. The first chief, Pat Adams, hired Hastings in December 1986 for the police department. Hastings worked his way through the ranks. Then-Mayor Don Elder, Jr., appointed Hastings chief, succeeding R.L. “Buddy” Frazier, who had held the job for 13 years. Frazier died in August.
Before joining the police department, Hastings was a volunteer with the Katy Ambulance Service and the Katy Volunteer Fire Department.
“I have never accomplished anything by myself,” Hastings said. “It’s the people I’ve had the honor and privilege to work with—officers, city government, citizens who have made my career so wonderful. I didn’t do it on my own. There are a lot of people who took me under their wing and taught me aspects of city government. Everybody has my cell phone number. I field calls, a lot of times in the middle of the night.”
Lots of time on the job means cleaning out the office took some time as well.
“I cleaned out office two days last week, boxing up memories, going through a lot of old files,” Hastings said, adding that he has copies of the paperwork from every narcotics case he worked. “I have so many memories, funny memories, sad memories, and some horrific memories.”
The council appointed Tim Tyler, an assistant police chief, as acting police chief Monday night. Brawner said the city’s human resources department must post the job opening, and then resumes must then be collected and reviewed before Brawner and others, as necessary, begin the interview process.
Hastings had praise for Tyler’s experience and abilities.
“He knows my job inside and out,” Hastings said. “Our personalities are a little bit different but our philosophies of management and community service and safety are the same. The Katy Police Department is a culture that has been handed down over many years. Tim is more than able to carry that on. The Katy Police Department will not miss a beat on Wednesday morning when I’m not there.”
A small reception followed the council meeting to honor Hastings. It’s the first of two such receptions. The Katy Police Officers Association is sponsoring a reception at 5 p.m. tonight at Agave Real, 1250 FM 1463. Those wishing to attend this reception are asked to RSVP with Priscilla Gonzalez in the chief’s office at 281-391-4855.
Hastings has announced his intention to run for mayor this spring against Brawner, who has announced his own intention to seek re-election.