Deputy Bill Hardin
75 years of public service
Deputy Bill Hardin began his career in Law Enforcement on February 1st 1947 with Fort Worth Police Department, after serving in the US Army during WWII.
“They were only hiring people who were at least 23 years old. I was only 22, but I was going to be 23 in a month, so they went ahead and hired me,” Bill told the Cleburne Times review.
“When I got on the bus, I was in full uniform, except for my cap shield and my badge. When I got [to the red granite building that housed the police department], they gave me my cap shield, my badge, a call box key and a plastic whistle,” he said. “I worked a six-day week, and I made $165 a month.”
After serving with the Fort Worth Police Department Bill retired and joined the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office in the 1980’s. After that Bill couldn’t leave well enough alone and began a reserve career with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, where he had been an invaluable resource for over 25 years.
Bill is just as sharp as ever and loves to tell stories of a time when law enforcement was a bit different from what we all have grown to know today.
“They had mailboxes on the posts, telephone posts, uptown. And you took the brass key, and when you opened the door and picked up the phone, the dispatcher answered you. You told him what you needed. Usually, you had a drunk in one hand, and trying to hold him and talk to the dispatcher. That didn’t work out too well, but that’s the only communication they had,” Bill Hardin says.
Bill currently works as a reserve investigator and assistant to command staff for the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and has not made any plans to retire yet.
“I’m going to keep doing this until the sheriff runs me out,” Bill says.
Bill Hardin is a true legend in Law Enforcement having done everything from walking a beat, traffic enforcement, narcotics investigations, homicides, and even guarding the grave of Lee Harvey Oswald.
Bill likes to speak to the younger Deputies in the agency and share his knowledge and wisdom. However Bill will be the first to tell you he has never stopped learning. Why does he stick around? Bill told the Texas Bucket List “I love people, That’s really what makes you like police work … when you’re able to save a life or help somebody. In my time, I have helped a bunch.” Bill also said in that interview, “It’s still the most rewarding job, and it’s the only job that I know of that you’re required to give your life to save somebody else. A fireman’s the same way. They have to do it. But everybody loves the firemen, but nobody likes the policeman because he gives you tickets,”
It is our honor and privilege to recognize Bill for his contributions to this agency and to the people of the great State of Texas.