Breckenridge Texan

By Carla McKeown and Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan

This morning, Stephens County officials looked back on their friendships and working relationships with Constable Wayne McMullen, who died at the age of 58 early today, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at his home in Breckenridge.

Constable Wayne McMullen was sworn in by District Judge Phillip Gregory on Dec. 31, 2024, for his second term in the office. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

McMullen first ran for the constable’s position in 2020 to replace Adam Babilon, who was retiring from the position. He was sworn in as constable for the first time on Jan. 2, 2021. Later that year, he was sworn in as the county fire marshal on Dec. 13, 2021, when Calvin Chaney retired from the position.

Prior to becoming the county constable, McMullen had worked for the City of Breckenridge in several jobs, including as a police officer, arson investigator and public works director.

In January 2013, McMullen went to work for the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy. He served there for several years, including a couple of stints as chief deputy. For a while, he was both a deputy and part-time constable. He also was a part-time jailer and was the firearms instructor and range master for the Sheriff’s Office, as well, Sheriff Kevin Roach said.

“He was great to work with. You know, Wayne was always working, always willing to help anybody do anything,” Roach said. “You know, he was always pleasant, good natured, very, very dependable, put in too many hours, really. He was an all around good guy and a really good officer.”

County Judge Michael Roach said McMullen provided a lot of services to the county, such as transporting anyone in custody who needed to go to a mental health facility. He was trained in courthouse and courtroom security and often provided security for the county court, district court and the justice of the peace court. Additionally, McMullen sometimes assisted with the bailiff duties in the courtroom.

Constable Wayne McMullen helped search for a local man who went missing in June 2023 at Hubbard Creek Lake. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

When the Breckenridge Police Department was short-handed, McMullen spent a lot of time backing up police officers on domestic calls, Michael Roach said. “He just never wanted to leave an officer by themselves in situations like that. So the sheriff’s office did that a lot, too, but Wayne was really, really proactive about that,” the county judge said. “And he actually expressed to me on several occasions that he worked late nights and overtime. Of course, he was an elected official, so he didn’t get paid for that, but he just didn’t want a fellow officer out there by themselves on the domestic call or something like that. So he was very conscientious about that. … It was just admirable and just part of who he was.”

McMullen epitomized what public service is all about, Michael Roach said. “He certainly was a law enforcement officer, and I had the opportunity on a couple of occasions to see him in that role, where he was all business,” he said. “But he also handled that with grace, too. A ‘silent strength’ is the way I would really describe him. He knew how to stand up for the rule of law and enforce that, but he also was gracious as much as he could be.”

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office has placed a wreath on McMullen’s patrol vehicle in front of the Law Enforcement Center, 210 E. Dyer St. The sheriff welcomes anyone who wishes to pay their respects to stop by and honor his memory. “Whether you knew him personally or simply appreciated his years of service, this is a time for us all to come together in gratitude and reflection,” he posted on Facebook.

To read more about Wayne McMullen, click here to see his obituary.

Stephens County Fire Marshal Wayne McMullen, left, helped County Judge Michael Roach deliver ice chests filled with bottles of water to the scene of a wildfire on Aug. 12, 2024. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Stephens County Fire Marshal Wayne McMullen, left, and Breckenridge firefighter Jose Garcia, Game Warden Clifton Westbrook and other first responders, looked over a map of Stephens County to determine alternative routes for getting to the western edge of the county when the U.S. Highway 180 bridge over Hubbard Creek Reservoir, aka the “Mile-Long Bridge,” was shut down by the Texas Department of Transportation in December 2023. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Stephens County Fire Marshal Wayne McMullen talked to the County Commissioners about the county’s burn ban in January 2023. (Photo by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office has lowered the flags to half-staff and placed a wreath on Wayne McMullen’s patrol vehicle in memory of the constable, who died Tuesday morning, April 22, 2025. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)