Last Thursday, White Settlement's finest were given their due at the Annual Awards Banquet, where the public safety team members took center stage. As detailed by the White Settlement Police Department, the soiree honored those from the WEST COMM Dispatch Center, PAWS Protecting Animals of White Settlement, and the Police Department for their tireless service.

It was a night where Chief Cook could openly express pride in the efforts of the teams under his command, stating “For me as a leader, it’s the best time of the year to brag about the amazing work being done by our teams,” and emphasized the importance of acknowledging high performance and the role of community partners, a testimony to the inextricable link between public servants and the citizens they safeguard, as per the White Settlement Police Department.

A host of local businesses and organizations stepped up to ensure the event's success, support that underscores the community’s respect for those in uniform. Acknowledgments went out to RLB Auto Group, Pressman Printing, Rival Signs, Academy, Northern Tool and Equipment, W.S. Chamber of Commerce, Texas Roadhouse, On the Border, Russell Feed and Supply, Modern Rustic, and the Stewart Family, all of whom contributed to the celebration.

In a show of solidarity and mutual support among the shielded brethren, the Sansom Park Police Department covered duties in White Settlement so that the honorees' colleagues could partake in the festivities, a gesture of camaraderie that perhaps says as much about the bond between officers as the shiny accolades now resting in their hands arms and hearts which beat to the rhythm of service and protection.