Bitter Sweet!

[Hooter]

   Last December after just over 40 years as a LEO I handed in my request for permanent retirement. I actually retired as Sgt a few years back but the chief wanted me to stay on part time, so I did. When I left a few years ago I did so because of the increase of  mamby pamby laws and no support from the courts. We as LEOs were losing ground. The crooks had more rights than we did and it got to the point where I hated to go to work feeling that I couldn't do my job. I came up through the "old school" as did RJ. We had conversations about the "old days". When all this "you can't do this" and "can't do that" came up I knew it was time to pull the plug . Not to mention I'm just getting too old to chase these damn kids anymore. 

   I just left a short meeting and my complete retirement from the P.D. is final. 41 years over all. Gonna miss the guys I work with and the community I have helped throughout the years. LE has been good to me!
   I still remain as fire chief of the District where I've been for 34 years and I still love this job. I've been in emergency services all my life in some way or the other. If I die doing this I will go a happy man with no regrets.

[Serk]

...I'm glad you successfully made it to the "other side" still sucking air...

Now go enjoy some of your time off!

[boss hoss bill]

Hooter

Congratulations

41 years of service is tremendous. Lots of changes since you started in 1975, not too many of them for the better unfortunately.
The unprecedented scrutiny and Monday morning quarterbacking is out of control these days, as the old saying goes "A policeman's lot is not a happy one." 

However, people generally love firefighters, so I can see why you want to stick with that career! 

Thanks for your service and enjoy your well earned retirement

[Popeye]

Hooter,


Thank you for your years of service.  Sounds like you have earned some time off.

My youngest just started his career as a LEO.  We are very proud of him and the profession.

Popeye

[bigguy]

Hooter, I also want to ad my thanks for your years of service. With things going the way the are, I can't imagine why anybody would go for a career in law enforcement today. I just glad there are still some who do.

[Patrick]

Good. Enjoy your retirement.

[da prez]

  Hooter , thank you for your service and hope you have many years to do what you want.
  Is IZ in your future ?

                                     da prez

[wiggydotcom]

Congrats on your "Full" retirement, Hooter. I also have 41 and a half years in at Caterpillar but will probably go 2-3 more years. I just turned 60. Like others have said, "Thank you for your Service." It'd be hard to put a number on it, but I'm guessing you made a difference, for the better, in countless lives of young men and women through your Police and Firefighting/EMS duties.

A Job Well Done!    

[Jess from VA]

Thanks for your service. 

As we approach the finish line, we are not sprinting but just walking smartly (with a big smile). 

This should give you lifetime nation-wide carry rights (barring any unforeseen felonies LOL).

(I'd still stay out of Jersey.)

[old2soon]

I'll add my congrats to this growing list. I Absolutely KNOW L E is an Honorable Profession but too MANY "politicians" trying to take the HONOR out of the Equation.  Thank you for the Years of Service rendered and those Years you Choose to keep being of Service to your Community!  Will you have more time to ride now??  RIDE SAFE.

[Pappy!]

Congrats as well !!
Lesa (my gal) retired from Children's Services in the state of Tennessee for the same reasons you did. She has a Masters in Forensic Psychology. In her job she never saw the normal.....only child death, rape, drugs, etc....... and by the time she left she was making the same statements you did. No longer able to perform her job due to increased amounts of red tape.

[PAVALKER]

...I'm glad you successfully made it to the "other side" still sucking air...

Now go enjoy some of your time off!

Whole heartedly agree......   Congrats.

[..]

Congratulations. 

[Oss]

You have earned your retirement and Bonnie and I
hope you have many years
of happy riding and enjoying life with your family

Congratulations on a job well done

Oss

[cookiedough]

Not much else can be said, just don't do as some do and sit around watching the hours per day count on down without doing something you enjoy the next 20 or so years.  Get out and move about and do something fun, within legality reasons of course.   

My soon to be 73 year old uncle has 52 years in with the same company, now that is dedication, although he has slowed down not being able to keep up with the young bucks anymore physical labor and all.  He wants to break the record for the company having 53 1/2 years of service in so he can just say to himself he has LONGEVITY there the most I guess??  IN 20 years though no one will remember who he was.  They keep telling him at work jokingly that he will die at his company finding him layed flat on the concrete one day.  He can afford to retire NO problems am sure, but I guess being home with his wife chasing her around the house is out of the question??   

[Hooter]

Prez:  Not sure about IZ yet? As much as I would like to I still have a full time job and I'm breaking in a new Asst. Chief. He is slated to be my replacement so it's full steam ahead. I wanna bail outa here in the next year or two as well. I want to spend some time without a pager glued to me and a gun on my hip. Well, at least the pager, the gun, well ????   

Cookie:  Not planing on setting down at all. I'm always doing something and I hate to even be indoors. I will be in doors when they put me in the box. Once I get this kid up to speed here at the fire station the next move will be to fully retire all together. Friends of mine that have retired say they are busier at retirement than they were working.....Really.   

Thank You guys for the nice words and well wishes. Gonna be a different life that is for sure.

[cookiedough]

that is what some say as well busier when after retire than working, although busier doing stuff you would prefer doing am sure.

My mother in law got retired, well sort of,  being bought out about 6 months prior to when she was eligible to retire and wanted to retire from her company anyways coming to age 63 at the time.  She seems to always be doing something gone and traveling states she is busier now than when she worked an 8 hour day some 10 years has past and feels the same way now.  That is a good thing I think vs. my dad retiring at only age 55 due to medical/health issues and not able to go out and about traveling, etc. didn't really know what to do to keep him busy the next 20 years of his life having worked at the same plant for 34 years.

Is nice to have a hobby you enjoy.

[firea100]

When you get settled in your new "position" and want to take a ride, come out to Southeast Michigan, I'll buy you breakfast to celebrate your retirement.

Larry in East China Mi.
#82
Retired, Clinton Township, Department of Fire-Rescue-EMS

[Hooter]

Thanks Larry, might take you up on that. Not a new job just the one thats left. Did Both LE and fire for most of my life. I am the chief of the same station my grandfather was. Kinda cool.  Been doing the fire service thing for 34 years. 

Thanks for what you did!

[Roadog]

   Hooter,
WELL DONE young man !!  Two thumbs up. The ONLY thing between us and the bad guys are YOU !!  Many Thanks !!!!

[czuch]

Damn fine job.
May your retirement be longer than your career and have the health to enjoy every second.