SAN MARCOS, Texas - A bust of fallen San Marcos officer Kenneth Copeland was unveiled Wednesday, memorializing the 19-year police veteran in bronze.
- Bust of fallen officer Kenneth Copeland unveiled Wednesday
- Copeland killed in the line of duty in December 2017
- Copeland devoted much of his life to serving the community
Copeland was killed in the line of duty on December 4, 2017. He was serving a felony arrest warrant when a gunman opened fire, killing Copeland.
He was the first officer killed in the line of duty within the San Marcos Police Department. He had been with the department since 1998.
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The bust was a gift from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and will be placed in the lobby of the police department for the public to view.
The bust has Copeland’s signature smile and sunglasses, which Chief Chase Stapp says represents his likeness perfectly. He says the department will never forget Copeland and plan to honor him regularly.
"Ken dedicated a great deal of his life to serving this community. He worked just about seven days a week almost his entire career. When he wasn't here, he was serving the Coast Guard. So he had a huge heart for service. You just can't fill a void left by somebody like that so we want to do something for him every year," Stapp said.
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The statue will be a daily reminder of Officer Copeland’s dedication to not only his department, but also to the whole community.
