Heather Harding, one of DeLeon’s two new officers, lived in Rising Star since the age of five, graduating from Rising Star High School in 1994. After graduation, Harding moved to Temple where she attended Temple Junior College. In 1998 she moved back to Rising Star. By March of 1999, Heather had two children, a son, who is now 12, and a daughter, who is now 8 years old.

“In December of 1999, I started attending the Brownwood Police Academy,” Harding said, “put on by West Central Texas Council of Governments. I graduated the academy in June of 2000, and started my law enforcement career in Comanche.”

While serving as a police officer for the Comanche Police Department, Harding attended several schools and currently holds an Intermediate Police Officers License. “I am a certified TCLEOSE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education) Instructor and hold a certification in Basic Handwriting Analysis,” she said. Harding held the rank of Patrol Sergeant when she left the Comanche Police Department in December of 2007 to begin work in DeLeon.

“At this time, I am currently engaged to Chris Hill of Comanche,” Harding said. “He’s also a police officer, and a fireman. We have a third child, a daughter who is two.”

Harding said she is excited to be working for the City of DeLeon.

“I feel that coming to work for the DeLeon Police Department was what was best for my family and career as an officer,” Harding said. “I believe this will provide me with a good opportunity to grow, both as a person and an officer. In the short time I’ve worked in DeLeon I’ve met numerous people in the community. I do not believe that one person has greeted me without a smiling face. I have been welcomed with open arms by many which made me feel at home. I hope to remain working at the DeLeon Police Department for a very lengthy duration.”