Q&A
“Ask the Chief” is an opportunity for our readers to reach out to Chief Wayne Nero and Assistant Chief Cory Tchida of the Georgetown Police Department, Please send your questions to [email protected] with the subject “Ask the Chief”
Are you always in shape or did you train specially for the Chase the Chief event?
~Fitness Buff
I don’t know that I can in good conscience claim that I am always in shape! Over the last year, Chief Nero and I have made a commitment to increase our fitness levels. I personally run five times a week and lift weights three times a week. That is to increase my overall health and well being rather than just train for an event. Doing fitness for life is much more motivating than training for an event.
Can you tell me about a tough situation you encountered in your job and what you learned from it?
~Wondering
I have unfortunately had more tough situations than I care to remember. My toughest are when bad things happen to children because it just seems so unfair. What I have learned from that is that as a profession and a society we have to do everything we can to help and protect our children. I try to put my money where my mouth is so in addition to being a police officer, I also serve on the board of CASA of Williamson County.
What do your family members / friends think of you being a police officer?
~Future Cop?
My father is a retired police officer and my wife was a long time police officer. They get the job so it is nice to have them to talk with. My kids are cop kids so they are thoroughly unimpressed by the job. My mom? She cried when I became a police officer because she thought she was done worrying when my father retired. Sorry mom! If it is any consolation, as the Assistant Chief I mostly shuffle papers around and that is pretty safe!
Does the Georgetown department ever allow ride-alongs? What are those like for the officer?
~Riding Shotgun
Yes! We allow citizens to ride along. We actually encourage it. It is one of the best ways for the public to see what we do (and don’t do) on a daily basis. They are great for the citizen and the officer because it helps to break down the walls and allows the officer and citizen to see each other as fellow community members rather than just as citizen and officer.
