Jack Russell Elrod

Jack Russell Elrod October 23, 1938 – August 27, 2013 Jack Elrod died peacefully Tuesday, August 27 at age 74. He had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement following his honorable discharge from the US Air Force. Starting on the Tyler PD, where he quickly rose to detective, Jack subsequently became a game warden for TPWD. He was then selected as a supervisory investigator for the TDHR’s new Fraud Investigation Division, moving from there to the attorney general’s White Collar Crime Unit, where he served on John Hill’s Nursing Home Task Force. When the AG organized its Medicaid Fraud Unit, Jack was appointed lead investigator, a position he held until receiving his Master of Science degree from Southwest Texas State. Restitution procedures he implemented as supervisory investigator for the AG are still in use. Jack then pursued his other passion – teaching, joining the Texas A&M Extension Law Enforcement & Security Training Unit. After acquiring a Master Peace Officer Certificate from TCLEOSE, he provided specialty training for individual PDs on request, concurrently serving as a detective for the Bastrop PD. Jack finished his career as head of the Criminal Justice Department at Austin Community College, where he both educated and mentored his students. Jack believed in right and wrong and lived his beliefs, yet with understanding and compassion. Going beyond text books and training manuals, he taught character, integrity, accountability, and perseverance to his students and employees and helped them to believe in themselves when no one else did. And he challenged their minds. He received the NISOD Excellence Award from UT and was ACC’s nominee for the Piper Professor Award. He served as a role model for many young law enforcement professionals, and his legacy lives on in the careers and accomplishments of both them and his students. He dealt gracefully with the tribulations of his later years, still enjoying life and maintaining his sense of humor. He was, above all, a gentle man. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Marsha Elrod, his daughter Michele Elrod, brother Don Elrod, and 4 nephews. A service celebrating his life will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, September 2 at Calvary Episcopal Church,603 Spring Street, Bastrop, TX. Burial will follow at Upper Cedar Creek Cemetery. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Texas Peace Officers Memorial Foundation scholarship fund (www.pomf.org/scholar.html) or a charity of your choice.