Llano County Precinct 3 Constable Bill Edwards is a 2021 Locals Love Us favorite law enforcement officer. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
The first things people see when they step into Llano County Precinct 3 Constable Bill Edwards’ office are stuffed animals and blankets, which seem out of place for law enforcement.
Not so, Edwards said.
“If you ever have to be at an accident scene and there are children and their mom or dad are being taken away, (the children are) crying and upset,” he said. “A stuffed animal will help calm them down really fast. The same is true for blankets. Blankets give them comfort. They work wonders.”
Edwards’ attention to kids and their families might explain why The Picayune Magazine readers and KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune listeners chose him as a 2021 Locals Love Us favorite law enforcement officer.
It’s his fifth time earning the honor.Edwards hadn’t planned on becoming a constable. In fact, he had planned to retire after serving 26 years in the U.S. Navy. But when the constable election came up, former Llano County Justice of the Peace Rudy Cunningham found Edwards and “talked me into doing it.”
“I said, ‘OK, I’ll give it a shot,’” Edwards said.
That was 18 years ago.
Don’t bother stopping by Edwards’ office without making an appointment. The constable prefers being with the people he serves, especially the children.
“If I see kids playing, I stop,” he said. “Half of my day is on the streets, the other half is in the office. A lot of kids I know from schools and churches. If something happens, kids will come right to me and tell me what they saw.”
He also loves mentoring young people. Recently, Edwards invited a young man, who is contemplating a law enforcement career, to spend a day with him to get a glimpse at it.
“That was fun for him,” the constable said. “We don’t really have a requirement to do that.”
Edwards extends the invitation to ride along with him to anybody who wants to learn about law enforcement firsthand.
jfierro@thepicayune.com
