January 1, 2010

Sergeant Joe Ellenburg, President of the McKinney Police Association and valued member of TMPA, has been selected as TMPA’s Officer of the Month. Ellenburg embodies the kind of professional leadership that is at the core of TMPA’s service philosophy to its members. As TMPA works to support our members to strengthen the voice of officers in their own local communities, Ellenburg is the ultimate partner.

Ellenburg leads his team with modesty and respect for all the members and their ideas. His vision and leadership skills sustain a team that is respected both at the contract bargaining table, and also among citizens of the community. Ellenburg’s local association works in a spirit of generosity to the community that goes beyond the duties of uniform and the hours of their assigned shift—in their personal time this last year, Ellenburg and his team raised money to replace thousands of dollars of stolen tools from a women’s shelter. They also noticed and made arrangements to assist an elder McKinney resident and veteran of war by providing a new roof—no longer will the resident struggle with temporary fixes and managing leaks and drafts. It is Ellenburg’s willingness to listen, eagerness to act, and good humor that sustain his team and keep his members feeling engaged and connected. His ability to gather peers to see and do earned him the presidency of his local association, a principal position on the contract bargaining team, the appreciation of McKinney’s citizens, and the pride of TMPA.

Sergeant Ellenburg was born in Hunt County, raised in Fannin County, Texas, and has been a peace officer for nearly 20 years.

After completing high school, he was awarded an academic football scholarship and attended Hardin-Simmons University. While taking a criminal justice course as an elective, he found himself inspired to enter a career in law enforcement— all thanks to his professor, a 22-year Mississippi State Trooper veteran.

Some of the most enjoyable aspects of being a peace officer for Ellenburg include the relationships and bonds created over the years. In his time as a narcotics Sergeant, he’s met and supervised men and women who have now become his closest friends and feel like family.

Even though Ellenburg walked away from his collegiate football career to protect and serve the residents of McKinney, he still has passion for the sport and plays on the Dallas Defenders Team, comprised of only peace officers in the DFW area. (The Dallas Defenders Team is minor league full- contact football team under the National Public Safety Football League.

We asked Ellenburg what he found to be the most challenging aspect of his work in law enforcement. His response is one that we at TMPA hear all too often. “You can find yourself getting frustrated when working in a constantly changing political and bureaucratic environment,” commented Ellenburg. “Striving to meet the different expectations of the citizens we serve, the courts, fellow officers, and other city agencies can be stressful at times,” he shared.

But, what motivates this officer to keep working through the challenges with a sense of humor and can-do attitude? Tenured officers usually have special and even tragic experiences that they forever carry with them. We asked Sergeant Ellenburg to share with us what drives him to continue his work. Very early into his career, Ellenburg rescued 3 young children he had found abandoned in a car. After further investigation, he discovered the children were living in a home with parents plagued by drug addiction and had to fend for themselves at too young of an age.   Fortunately, this story has a happy ending—a close friend of Ellenburg’s, who is a local fireman, adopted the children. And even happier of an ending is that Ellenburg has been able to stay in touch with the children and hear about their progress as they grow up.

Sergeant Ellenburg has been a member of TMPA since the McKinney Police Association (MPA) was formed 13 years ago. TMPA assisted the McKinney officers in forming the MPA, and when it came time to make a decision, the McKinney officers overwhelmingly selected to affiliate with TMPA.

“At TMPA there is always someone to talk to, no matter when I call in. The constant communications and representation is extremely nice; in McKinney we know we are getting our money’s worth,” stated Ellenburg.

“TMPA supported McKinney to move forward in initiatives for civil service, and over the past two years has helped us establish Meet & Confer. TMPA representatives meet with us every month, and we know we are a priority,” commented Joe.