Hutto school district names police chief
William Edwards, leaving Pflugerville police force, cites ‘great opportunity.’
William Edwards, formerly a lieutenant in the Pflugerville Police Department, will start his new job as Hutto school district police chief Monday.
Edwards will officially retire from the Pflugerville Police Department on Friday to begin his new duties as the head of the Hutto school district police force, filling a role being vacated by chief Rick Stone, who retired in June.
“I am very excited to be a member of the Hippo Nation and serve the Hutto community,” Edwards said in a news release. “Serving an ISD police department is much different from a municipal department. We have a chance to make a significant difference in the lives of young people, and we have an opportunity to help redirect kids headed down a wrong path before it’s too late.”
As the first Pflugerville school district police chief, Edwards served in his role for “8 years, 2 months and 21 days” before changing duties as a captain at the Pflugerville Police Department, he said in August.
Edwards joined the Pflugerville police in 1996. He grew the Pflugerville school district police department from its inception to a 23-person department.
“Serving 20 years is a tremendous accomplishment and commitment to Pflugerville,” Pflugerville Police Chief Jessica Robledo said in a statement. “(Edwards) was instrumental in setting up the current PfISD policing model as our first PfISD chief. I thank him for his service to Pflugerville and know he will serve Hutto well.”
In August, Edward passed the torch as Pflugerville district chief to Jason Smith, who stayed in the position for about six months before becoming a police commander on the force after Robledo reorganized the department.
Lt. Patrick Petherbridge from the patrol division replaced Smith as Pflugerville district police chief in the reorganization.
In late January, Edwards moved to lieutenant over patrol after the department’s reorganization. Officials anticipate Edwards’ position will be filled by an internal promotion, a Pflugerville police spokeswoman said.
“I have enjoyed my 10 years doing police work in a school district,” Edwards said in the release. “Hutto is booming, and this is a great opportunity to be part of a school district that continues to distinguish itself in both Central Texas and the state.”
Edwards has more than 4,600 law enforcement training hours and holds eight proficiency certificates with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
“We are thrilled to get a leader the caliber of Chief Edwards,” Hutto district Superintendent Doug Killian said in the release.
“His reputation in the area is outstanding, and we look forward to having him serve the Hippo Nation and our students and staff.”