Steve January, the Chief Deputy of the McLennan County Sheriff in Waco, Texas, was a lawman cut from denim of the old west.

Hundreds of officers recently paid their last respects to January, whose life was not cut short by a bullet from his many face-offs with killers but by cancer. 

I’m Robert Riggs with a story about an officer who fought many a round seeking justice inside the crime scene tape.

L to R Robert Riggs & Chief Deputy Steve January Hold "Yellowstone" Hoodie Worn By Nicole Sheridan

Steve and I were last pictured together holding up a barrel racing jacket given to the Sheriff’s office by Nicole Sheridan, the wife of Taylor Sheridan.

Yes. Taylor Sheridan, The creator of Yellowstone, a true-life Texas cowboy, and cousin of January’s boss Sheriff Parnell McNamara.

I met McNamara and January in May 2022 to discuss their cold case unit.

In honor of Steve’s memory, I am rebroadcasting the episode.  

After hearing the original, many of you commented that you wished you had a pair of straight-talking, no-nonsense Texas lawmen like January and McNamara watching over your community.

Their motto is “Riding Herd On The Lawless.”

And they are about as Texas as you can get.

In closing, here’s my reporter’s recap and reflections.

Steve January was a lawman who would not quit when trying to find justice for the victims of crime.  

He stood up the cold case unit to solve cases once considered unsolvable. 

That was Steve, and the law-abiding citizens of Central Texas will miss him. 

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