Welcome to Olney, Officer Hagane Beck

The Olney Police Department welcomed a new addition in November as Officer Hagane Beck joined the force, bringing experience from multiple agencies at a time when the department is rebuilding after a summer of staffing losses.

Officer Beck’s arrival comes as the department continues to stabilize following the departure of former Chief Dan Birbeck and two additional officers earlier this year, leaving the station short-staffed entering the fall. OPD officials said Officer Beck is a welcome boost to patrol coverage and community outreach. OPD plans to welcome another new officer in December, bringing the department to full staffing.

Originally from Jacksboro, Officer Beck said returning to Young County feels like coming home. She is a graduate of Bryson High School and attended the police academy in 2018, launching her law enforcement career just before the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped policing across Texas.

“I’m from Jacksboro, so this feels close to home,” she said in an interview with the Enterprise. “It’s nice working in a place where you already know people instead of having to learn a whole new community from scratch.”

Officer Beck began her career in 2019 with the Vernon Police Department, where she also worked for the Wilbarger County Sheriff ’s Office, gaining experience in both city and county law enforcement. Most recently, she served with the Chillicothe Police Department, working along U.S. Highway 287 and handling a steady stream of drug interdiction calls, highway patrol duties and rural law enforcement challenges.

“I like city policing better than county work,” she said. “But I also loved working the highway. That’s kind of my thing.”

Officer Beck said the opportunity to come to Olney arose after she received a call from OPD Detective Autumn Thames, and she did not hesitate long before accepting.

While Officer Beck currently lives in Iowa Park, she plans to remain there for now as her son finishes his junior year of high school. She said the commute is nothing new.

“I’ve commuted my whole law enforcement career,” she said. “It doesn’t bother me at all.”

What drew Officer Beck most to Olney, she said, was the chance to focus on community policing — building connections with residents beyond traffic stops and calls for service.

“I like being involved with the community. I love community policing. I like building rapport with people.”

In Chillicothe, she helped launch a community event called “Candy with a Cop,” an outreach initiative for children — something she hopes to do again in Olney.

“It’s not about the badge … I put my pants on the same way everybody else does.”