Abstract: The literature on veterans in the public sector tends to focus on the federal level, with little attention to local government, where most people interact with public services. This study helps fill that gap by investigating reported stress among veterans in the context of local policing. Using survey data from a South Texas police department, we test whether veterans report higher workload stress than non-veterans. Results show they do, though perceived preparedness from workplace training may reduce stress. We also find that workload stress contributes to burnout. These findings offer new insights into veterans' experiences in local public service.