WESLACO – The public information officer for the Department of Public Safety in the Rio Grande Valley is retiring after 23 years of service with the agency.

A retirement luncheon was held for Lt. Johnny Hernandez on Thursday.

Several law enforcement agencies from across the state and the Valley were in attendance, as well as many members of local media.

Senator Eddie Lucio commemorated Hernandez’s overall 38 years in law enforcement.

Other public information officers, including from Laredo and Corpus Christi, spoke on the lieutenant’s guidance he provided when they started off in their position.