Robert "Chief" Eberz

Robert "Chief" Eberz passed away on October 23, 2025 in Longview Texas. Viewing and services will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Viewing will be at 10AM, and a service to honor his life will follow at 11AM, at Rader Funeral Home. Robert will join his wife, Eileen, in a Mausoleum at Rosewood Park Cemetery following funeral services.

Robert was born on May 17, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from High School, Robert enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served 23 years, 13 of which were as a non-commissioned officer. While in enlisted status, he was assigned duties as a Morse Code Intercept Operator, a Security Police Officer, and a Military Training Instructor at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Robert served 13 months in Vietnam, after which he received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. As a commissioned officer, Robert was assigned to Malstrom AFB, Montana, where he performed duties as a Convoy Commander and as Branch Chief for Missile Site Security. Promoted to the rank of Captain, Robert was sent to Headquarters 8D1 Air Force at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Robert had the responsibility for the observation and inspection of security systems employed by the numerous missile bases throughout the command. After three years in that position, Robert was sent to Louisiana Tech University as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies for ROTC officer candidates. He served four years in that position and retired from the Air Force in 1984 to accept a position as the Director of Student Relations at Louisiana Tech. Robert was responsible for the oversight of the campus police and the Student Activities Center. Robert also performed duties as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for Lincoln Parish Louisiana.

In 1987, he moved to Pampa, Texas, where he accepted the position of Chief of Police. As Chief, Robert developed policies and procedures that were reviewed and approved by the National Commission for Law Enforcement Agencies Accreditation. On May 4, 1989, Robert was presented with a Texas Senate Resolution in recognition of his Department being the 6th Texas Police Department and the 19th in the nation, to receive national accreditation status. In 1989, Robert moved to Longview to accept the position of Assistant Chief of Police. During his tenure as Assistant Chief, he held the command position of all three Department Divisions, the Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and the Administrative Services Division. In 1999, Robert developed a training curriculum for the Citizen Police Academy, where he acted as coordinator and instructor. He further founded the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, which remains active in support of the Police Department, and the Gregg County Law Enforcement Annual Awards Banquet.

Robert spent the last two years of his career in Law Enforcement developing police policies and procedures that led the Department to become the 2nd Law Enforcement in Texas to receive Recognition Status from the Texas Police Officer's Association. Robert retired on February 29, 2008. Robert holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice (Magna Cum Laude) from Culver Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, and a Master's Degree in Industrial Security from Michigan State University. He was also a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Vehicle Safety and Traffic Management and the University of Southern California's School of Public Administration for Police Officers. Within the Texas Police Training Program, Robert was awarded certification as an Instructor and Master Police Officer. He authored two publications. "Hostage Negotiations - Defusing the Human Bomb," Workshop Essay, Vol 21, 1976, University of Southern California. "The Weapons of Leadership-Leading the Thin Blue Line", Texas Police Journal, March 1995.

Robert is preceded in death by his Father and Mother, William J and Florence B., and his Wife, Eileen. He is survived by his Daughter, Laura Pace and her husband Todd of McKinney, Texas, and two grandchildren, Olivia and Sadie Pace.