Officer Zachery Reed has served with the Boerne Police Department for four years, first on patrol and now as a K-9 handler with his four-legged partner, Warti.
For Reed, it’s the best job in policing.
“He comes home with me, comes to work with me, and we train together on off days,” he said.
When the duo clocks in, it’s all business as they work to keep Boerne’s streets safe and free of drugs and other harmful narcotics. You won’t find them hiding out in parking lots.
“When I’m on duty, I’m working. I’m out there looking for people doing things they’re not supposed to be doing and holding them accountable,” Reed said.
Each day on the job is different, with no two calls or traffic stops being the same. Reed says it’s his fellow officers who help on heavier days.
He knows it’s a bit cliché, but for Reed, helping people and being there for them in a time of need is exactly what led him to join the force.
There have been many moments during his career that stand out, but he’s most proud of his role in saving the life of a 3-year-old boy who nearly drowned in a community pool in June 2024.
Reed, along with officers Jose Salazar, Stephen Moring, and Cody Shelton, were the first on the scene.
“Being a father, I put myself in that parent role when I’m out there,” Reed said. “The kid was not doing well when we got there but we were able to get signs of life by the time he was transported to the hospital. We found out a day or so later that he was going to be OK.”
Reed and his fellow officers reunited with the family a few months later and were recognized with the Lifesaving Award and the American Heart Association Heart Saver Award.
Last year, Reed was the recipient of the Director’s Award for the Police Department at the City of Boerne’s annual employee luncheon.
The honor was given in recognition of his work during the previous year, which included being the arresting officer of the two armed robbery suspects who held up the Domino’s Pizza in Boerne and a major drug bust that got more than 500 grams of THC, other narcotics, and weapons off the street.
Before moving from upstate New York about six years ago, Reed was a firefighter. Upon arriving in Texas, he enrolled in the police academy and first served at the Universal City Police Department before coming to Boerne.
When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his wife and young daughter. He enjoys serving Boerne and appreciates the generous support the community gives to law enforcement.
