Lake Whitney’s Stucker Receives Commission as a State Park Police Officer
Region 5 Cadets from Meridian, Lake Arrowhead and Lake Whitney State Parks receive their State Park Police Officer commissions at the Bastrop State Park Refectory. Pictured here (from left to right) Regional Director Rodney Franklin, Regional Law Enforcement Coordinator Shawn Bengtson, Officer Erika Chaisson, Superintendent Adrian Smith, Superintendent Keith Gauthier, Officer Laramy Estel, Officer Luke Stucker, Superintendent Chris Bishop.
Lake Whitney State Park, Hill County, Texas – Lake Whitney State Park’s Assistant Superintendent Luke Stucker was commissioned as a State Park Police Officer at the historic Bastrop State Park Refectory on Friday, March 7, 2014.
In order to receive his law enforcement commission, Stucker completed a five month Basic Police Officer Academy at McLennan Community College (MCC) in Waco followed by the seven week State Park Police Officer Academy at Bastrop State Park. Stucker graduated as valedictorian of his Basic Police Officer Academy, and he was also selected by his peers as the recipient of MCC’s Spirit Award. The Spirit Award is given to the cadet who shows greatest character, attitude and leadership aptitude.
Stucker joined Lake Whitney State Park’s staff in November 2012. Prior to that, he worked at Mother Neff State Park in Texas and Cherry Creek State Park, an urban-interface state park in Colorado.
State Park Police Officers are conservation law enforcement officers with statewide jurisdiction. State Park Police fulfill public safety and law enforcement functions at the 95 units of the State Parks Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. State Park Police enforce State Park Rules & Regulations, fish & game and boater safety laws, in addition to the Texas Penal Code, Transportation Code, Family Code, Alcoholic Beverages Code and Health & Safety Code.
According to Park Superintendent Chris Bishop, “We could not be more proud of Luke Stucker and his performance. The training regimen to become a State Park Police Officer is a long and rigorous process. The training is a significant investment, on the parts of both the agency and the officer. Throughout the process, Luke engaged the training experience fully, and he represented himself, his family and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with distinction.”
Lake Whitney State Park is a 775-acre parcel of public land managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to conserve natural and cultural resources, provide recreational and educational opportunities, and foster an understanding of the diversity of Texas’ lands and heritage for all generations.
For more information about Lake Whitney State Park or this release, please contact Chris Bishop, (254) 694-3793, email –christopher.bishop@tpwd.texas.gov, or join the park’s Facebook fan site.
Chris Bishop Park Superintendent / State Park Police Officer Lake Whitney State Park P.O. Box 1175 Whitney, TX 76692 (254) 694-3793 OFFICE (254) 205-8645 AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY LINE (903) 286-8651 CELL “Fall seven times. Stand up eight.” –Japanese proverb