ECPD sends two officers to ECISD, takes on two
By BRENDA SOMMER news1@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Brenda Sommer The New Guys Justin Soza, left, of Bay City and El Campo native Jeffrey Pfeil are the two newest officers at the El Campo Police Department. They are taking over patrol duties for two officers now working at El Campo's school district.

With the move of two officers to full-time positions at the campuses of El Campo ISD, the El Campo Police Department is welcoming two new officers to the agency.

The city and school district signed an agreement last month to put two officers at the disposal of the district during school hours. El Campo Police Officer Robert Holder started his duties at El Campo High School Monday, Oct. 1, while Officer Jennifer Mican will be assigned to the El Campo Middle School as of Monday, Oct. 15.

Coming on board at the police department are Jeffrey Pfeil and Justin Soza, both of whom started this week.

Pfeil, an El Campo native, comes to ECPD from serving as a deputy for the Wharton County Sheriff's Department, where he's worked since 1999.

"It's a new start, but I've never left El Campo," he said.

His family has a law enforcement tradition, with his father working for the sheriff's office since 1974 and his sister serving as an ECPD dispatcher.

Soza is a Bay City native, and before joining ECPD, was an officer at the Matagorda County Jail. Prior to his 2 1/2 years with Matagorda County, he worked at the Harris County Jail, but left that job to "return to a small-town atmosphere."

"I have a friend who works here at ECPD, so I knew it was a really professional organization," he said.

Elliott said both men are now in training with all the various aspects of ECPD, spending time with detectives, dispatch and then observing by riding along with patrol officers.

"It gives them a general background of the operations of the departments," he said.

A third position is waiting to be filled, created when Officer Tyler Davis left the department. Davis has gone to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Elliott said.

In January, the department will hire two more officers, positions added to this year's budget, Elliott said. As well, a dispatcher is leaving shortly, lured away by higher pay in Sugar Land.

"We're accepting applications now," the chief said.