Full-Time Retired Veteran Volunteers at the Sheriff's Office

Meet Daily Point of Light Award winner Gary Anderson. Read their story and nominate an exceptional volunteer or family as their daily point of light.

Gary Anderson left small-town Maine when he joined the Marines and saw the world. After leaving the military, he continued his explorations in the United States, working in various jobs: food and beverage director for a hotel chain in Florida, branch manager of a financial institution in St. Louis, and president from a Massachusetts and New Hampshire company that bought and sold businesses, just to name a few, before landing in Texas.

It was here that he finally retired and found himself looking for a new type of role, unencumbered by the need for a salary. His search led him to the Hays County Sheriff's Office, but before becoming a volunteer, Gary spent 15 weeks at the Citizens Academy, three hours a week learning the basic responsibilities of the Sheriff's Office: the 911 center, animal control, prison, criminal investigations, SWAT operations, etc. He has now volunteered for over 12 years, full time and counting, spending the last six years in the Community Outreach Unit and saving the office thousands of dollars and man hours. He became part of his colleagues’ family and built lasting bridges with the community through his outreach.

What inspires you to volunteer?

When I retired, I thought I had to do something. I didn't really need to make money, so I considered volunteering. I saw an opportunity with the sheriff's office to go through their Citizens Academy. After doing this in early 2012, one of the lieutenants asked me if I would like to volunteer.

Tell us about your volunteer role with the Hays County Sheriff's Department and beyond.

I started working at the Criminal Investigation Division in 2013. I was there for three and a half years, handling juvenile cases and doing uniform reports for the sheriff's department that went to the state, then to the FBI. I attended the Kyle Police Department's Citizens Academy and became an alumnus. Then I moved into community outreach, and I've been there since late 2015.

We support the Junior Assistant Academy for children aged 9 to 12. We give them the basics of how 911 and the Crisis Negotiation Team work, animal control, etc. They can examine some SWAT equipment and learn about criminal investigations. It gives children an introduction to police work. Some went on and graduated by taking criminal justice courses before returning to work for the sheriff's department and other police departments around the city.

I am the person responsible for the annual National Night Out program, which is a national program that brings neighborhoods together. Agents go out and talk to HOAs and neighborhoods. I also serve as treasurer for the Hays County Honor Guard Foundation and the Citizens Alumni Association. The latter is made up of all the people who have gone through the Academy and who raise funds to buy things not funded by the county. The last thing we helped fund was the SWAT team. It was a high-tech camera to monitor corners and doors to reduce risks to police officers. We raise $20,000 or more a year and spend it all on the sheriff's office. And I'm a member of the Texas Citizens Academy Alumni Association and the Texas Crime Prevention Association.

What has been the most rewarding part of your job?

It's just being able to help. When I do a lot of these things, it frees up a real sheriff's deputy or a real police officer to do the things they need to do. This saves them time.

What are some things people might be surprised to learn that police officers do?

They are surprised by our education and awareness efforts. We go to schools and show them different equipment and everything else. Additionally, in the fight against fentanyl, we have two MPs who have traveled all over the United States and even to Mexico City to speak at an international conference. They gave a presentation on fentanyl. I helped work on this program.

Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that excite you.

One of my great passions each summer is helping an organization called Sunshine Kids based in Houston. They come here on a trip they call Hill Country Adventure with kids ages 12 to 20 who are battling cancer. We raise funds from our alumni and support them with food and trips. We throw a big Bingo ice cream social for them and give away about $5,000 in prizes each year. While they're here, the sheriff's office has a big barbecue for them and we shut down the highway and take them to the State Capitol in some really cool cars for a tour.

At Christmas, I dress up as Brown Santa from the sheriff's office. I go to all the fundraising events and collect toys. Last year, we helped 525 families and more than 1,500 children in Hays County. These things really mean a lot to me, because these kids don't have much.

Why is it important for others to get involved in causes they care about?

There are so many needs, whether in hospitals or in food banks. There are many different programs and not enough people to do it all. It is very beneficial to the community to make these programs work better.

Any advice for people who want to get into volunteering?

Whatever you want to get involved with, find out. There are many good people who want to help others, and many of them may not know how or where to do it, but you just have to go out there and see.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

It's really enriching. I feel so satisfied being able to help people. No matter where you are in your life, there is always someone who is worse off than you, and if you can help make their life better, that should make you feel good.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Gary? Find local volunteer opportunities.