Justin Shockley promoted to sergeant with Breckenridge Police Department

By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
Justin Shockley with the Breckenridge Police Department was promoted to the rank of sergeant last month and was honored with a badge ceremony at the Oct. 8 Breckenridge City Commission meeting.
“Of all the things that I’ve done in the short amount of time I’ve had, I can tell you, the easiest decision I’ve ever had to make was who was ready for it,” Police Chief Blake Johnson said about promoting officers to sergeant. “Every time something came up, it was always his opportunity for me to say, ‘Hey, who’s got this?’ He’s got it. Every time somebody in the community said, ‘Who knows this?’ It’s always, ‘He’s the guy.’ He’s always on the top of it. And, boy, like I said, when the time came, about who was going to be the guy, it’s this guy.”
Sgt. Scott Gabriel pinned the new badge on Shockley.
“The gold shield means a lot,” Johnson said, explaining to those at the meeting the significance of the new badge. “And, I tell you, like I said, this is a man who deserved it, and I’m really proud of the fact that this man does the work.”
Shockley has served on the BPD since 2019. He began working in law enforcement with the Vernon Police Department in 2010; he also previously worked as a deputy with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.
“Sergeant Shockley is well known in our community and has been a positive impact on the people he serves,” Johnson said in a recent media release. “Sergeant Shockley will be assigned to the patrol division where he will be supervising and mentoring the officers under his command.”

Breckenridge Police Chief Blake Johnson, left, introduces newly promoted Sergeant Justin Shockley at the Oct. 8 City Commission meeting. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge Police Sgt. Scott Gabriel, left, pins the sergeant’s badge on Justin Shockley, who was recently promoted. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Editor’s note: This article was updated on Oct. 11, 2024, to correct the date Justin Shockley went to work for the Vernon Police Department.