Breckenridge honors retiring Chief Larry Mahan

The Breckenridge community came together in full force to celebrate the retirement of Police Chief Larry Mahan. Community leaders, government officials, family, and friends gathered on Friday, Jan. 17 inside the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center to celebrate his legacy.

Mahan served the community as police chief for 21 years and has protected county citizens for nearly 40 years.

In the summer of 1998, the Breckenridge City Commission terminated Ronnie Pendleton as police chief. After advertising the position opening nationwide, the city received almost 40 applications from a number of states along with many inquiries from Texas.

A committee made up of representatives of the city commission, city staff and then acting police chief Jim Pence sorted through applications and chose two candidates.

After an executive session interview of the two candidates, Mahan was chosen as the city’s top cop on Oct. 5, 1998.

Before becoming police chief of Breckenridge, Mahan served as chief deputy for Stephen County Sheriff Jim Reeves for several years and as a Breckenridge police officer for 10 years. He also served as an instructor in the West Central Texas Council of Government Law Enforcement Academy in Abilene.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, Jan. 22 edition of the Breckenridge American.