For Officer Jacob De Anda, law enforcement was never a backup plan. It was something he felt
called to from an early age, shaped by growing up in Boerne and seeing firsthand the trust
between the community and its officers.
“My family has been in the Hill Country for over 30 years,” De Anda said. “Growing up here,
the respect for law enforcement really stood out. I knew that’s where I wanted to work.”
The officers he had known growing up, including former school resource officer Jason Abbott,
gave him a clear picture of what the job could be.
“Those guys were amazing officers,” he said. “That’s who I strive to be.”
That connection stayed with him through his time at University of Texas at San Antonio, where
he studied criminal justice. After completing the police academy in 2022, he began his career
with the Shavano Park Police Department before returning home to Boerne.
“God was telling me Boerne was open,” he said. “It was time to move on.”
Serving in the Moments That Matter
For De Anda, the job is rooted in connection.
“I’m a very personable guy. I love talking to people,” he said. “Being able to calm someone
down and make them feel at ease is when I knew I was where I needed to be.”
Those moments often come when people are at their lowest.
“We’re the worst part of their day when we show up,” he said. “So letting them know we’re here
for them makes a big difference.”
Serving in his hometown adds weight to that responsibility. Many of the people he encounters
are not strangers.
“I grew up with a lot of these people,” he said. “Being able to relate to them matters.”
The Weight Behind the Badge
Over time, the job changes how you see the world.
“I’m always aware of my surroundings now,” he said. “I’m always watching.”
But the deeper impact comes from the calls themselves.
“Things involving kids, bad accidents, it takes a toll,” he said. “We hate to see anybody get
hurt.”
Even routine enforcement carries weight.
“If we have to take someone to jail, it’s not because we hate them,” he said. “We just want to
make sure everyone goes home safe.”
Faith, Brotherhood, and Reset
De Anda leans on both faith and the people around him to carry that weight. He is active at St.
Peter’s Catholic Church Boerne and describes his faith as central to how he processes the job.
Within his department, support is immediate.
“We check on each other after hard calls,” he said. “If you need a break, you take it.”
At the end of a long shift, the reset is simple.
“Going home and being able to hug my wife and relax, that’s the best reset,” he said.
When he does get time off, it often looks familiar. Time outdoors, a round of golf at Buckhorn,
or a meal at the places he has known for years.
“My wife and I love going to Sauced and China Bowl,” he said. “And we’ll go to Cibolo or
Hamby’s too.”
For De Anda, this is not just the place he works. It is home.
Hope for Heroes Texas
De Anda first connected with Hope for Heroes Texas through a luncheon and quickly noticed
something different.
“Seeing Brad go around, shake hands, and talk to everyone, it makes you feel appreciated,” he
said.
For him, the impact goes beyond meals or events.
“It brings peace knowing there are programs that understand what we go through,” he said. “Not
everyone understands what we see every day.”
That local connection stands out.
“With Hope for Heroes Texas, they know who they’re helping,” he said. “They know the officers
and their families.”
As the county grows, that support matters more than ever.
“It’s going to keep growing,” he said. “And it’s going to help a lot of people.”
A Legacy of Presence
When asked what he hopes others will say about him, De Anda kept it simple.
“That I always had their back,” he said. “That I was respectful and helped people.”
It reflects the heart of the work. Showing up, treating people well, and serving the community
that raised him.
Brad Cornell, founder of Hope for Heroes Texas, sees that kind of service as central to the
organization’s mission.
“Jacob represents the kind of officer every community hopes for,” Cornell said. “He grew up
here, he knows the people, and he genuinely cares about doing the job the right way.”
Cornell emphasized that supporting first responders is about more than resources. It is about
relationships.
“At Hope for Heroes Texas, we are building connections with these men and women and
reminding them that their community sees them and supports them,” he said.
In a growing county, that support remains essential.
“If we can come alongside them and make sure they know they are not alone, then we are doing
exactly what we set out to do.”
From the Hope for Heroes series: For the sheriff who leads the department De Anda joined, read about Sheriff Al Auxier. For another officer with deep Hill Country roots, read about Kevin Klaerner.
