2021 Locals Love Us favorite law enforcement: state park Officer Tim Elmore

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department State Park Police Officer Tim Elmore knows not everyone who visits Inks Lake State Park has a grasp on the rules and regulations. “Texas Parks and Wildlife rules and regulations, they can seem a bit vague to people,” he said. “They aren’t ones people are typically used to.”
Elmore enforces those rules and laws; however, he prefers to start with education.
“A lot of what I do here is educating people, letting them know what the rules are,” Elmore said. “We do a lot of education and explaining. We will enforce them, but we like to start with educating where we can.”
The 19-year law enforcement veteran and seven-year state park police officer is a 2021 Locals Love Us favorite law enforcement officer, an honor voted on by The Picayune Magazine readers and KBEY 103.9 FM Picayune Radio listeners. He has also worked as a U.S. Border Patrol agent and a game warden.
“As park police, we protect the park and its resources as well as the people in the park,” he said. 
He also responds to calls outside of the park to assist other agencies. 
Inside the park, Elmore spends a good deal of time talking with visitors. He said it’s nice to learn where people are from, how often they’ve been coming to Inks Lake State Park, and their stories.
“You hear a lot of people who tell you coming to Inks Lake is a family tradition,” he said. “That’s fun to hear because you know the park is special to them and they’ll help take care of it.”
daniel@thepicayune.com