The Erath County community is mourning the loss of a devoted officer and neighbor after Stephenville PD patrol sergeant Steven Watts, 53, died Monday at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas surrounded by family and fellow officers.
Watts was checked into a hospital Friday after feeling sick and was transported to Baylor on Saturday when his condition worsened. It was there that they discovered an infection in the lining of Watts’ heart.
Friends and neighbors on social media immediately responded by setting up fundraisers, offering words of encouragement and seeking prayers for the Watts family.
Dublin Police Chief Cameron Ray was among those who spoke of Watts’ character, saying this on Facebook: “While Sgt. Watts and I have never worn the same uniform, he’s the type of officer that we all strive to be and I’m [fortunate] to know him. Sgt. Watts is a man of great integrity and dedication to his community, his agency and the law enforcement profession as a whole.”
Meanwhile, Watts underwent open-heart surgery and was given dozens of units of blood to fight the infection. He then went into a coma.
After testing revealed no brain activity, the difficult decision was made to take him off life support Monday.
Watts was given a hero’s welcome when he was transported back to Erath from Dallas Monday afternoon as Erath neighbors and first responders as well as a multitude of American flags lined the roadway.
Watts served on Stephenville PD for more than 20 years and was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
An account benefiting his family has been set up at First Financial Bank in Stephenville.
Neighbors can also donate through a gofundme page for The Watts Family at https:// gofund.me/9526eb86.!