local
Longtime Woodway PSD captain passes away
Summary by The Waco Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Matt McGovern , FOX 44 News (KWKT)
· July 21, 2026
· 1 min read
WOODWAY, Texas (FOX 44) - The Woodway Public Safety Department is mourning the loss of a retired captain who gave 35 years of service to the community. Chief Kahlil El-Halabi announced the loss of retired Captain Barney Witt on Tuesday afternoon. He retired in 2017 as Captain over the department'...
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Summary created by The Waco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Matt McGovern, FOX 44 News (KWKT) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 21, 2026 Indexed here Jul 21, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway He retired in 2017 as Captain over the department's Patrol Division.
Why this matters in The Waco
The passing of retired Captain Barney Witt is a significant loss for the Woodway community, where he dedicated 35 years of his career to public safety. His retirement in 2017 as Captain over the Patrol Division marked the end of an era, but his legacy continues to be felt in the department he served for so long. As a member of the Woodway Public Safety Department, Captain Witt played a critical role in shaping the city's approach to law enforcement and emergency response. His experience and leadership helped to build trust between the department and the community, a bond that is essential for effective public safety. The city will likely come together to pay tribute to Captain Witt's service and memory, and his colleagues will undoubtedly continue to draw on the lessons and values he imparted during his tenure.
About this story
Original reporting by FOX 44 News (KWKT) . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit FOX 44 News (KWKT) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 21, 2026 ·
Source: FOX 44 News (KWKT) ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? WOODWAY, Texas (FOX 44) - The Woodway Public Safety Department is mourning the loss of a retired captain who gave 35 years of service to the community. Chief Kahlil El-Halabi announced the loss of retired Captain Barney Witt on Tuesday afternoon. He retired in 2017 as Captain over the department'...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 21, 2026 by FOX 44 News (KWKT) and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Matt McGovern at FOX 44 News (KWKT). To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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