UCFPD Sgt. Jerry Hartsfield first stepped onto the campus of the 海角直播 35 years ago as a criminal justice student.
This month, he retires with an honorary promotion of lieutenant following 30 years of service with UCFPD.
Hartsfield, known for being a man of few words, had a simple message for colleagues who this week attended a reception in his honor.
鈥淚 was fortunate to be here all these years, and I hope that those of you who are in the same situation here, 30 years from now, will get the opportunity to retire from UCF.鈥�
Former UCFPD Maj. Randy Mingo, who retired earlier this year, returned to UCFPD to support his friend and share stories about 鈥渢he good old days,鈥� when campus was still rural and when there were much less students and police officers.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had some really great times, and I hope they don鈥檛 end,鈥� Mingo said to Hartsfield. 鈥淩etirement鈥檚 really great. You鈥檙e going to embrace it, and it鈥檚 been my pleasure to work with you.鈥�
When Hartsfield was first sworn in at UCFPD in 1986, Ronald Reagan was president and gas cost $.89 a gallon, Chief Richard Beary said, acknowledging how much UCF and the world have changed since Hartsfield started as an officer.
鈥淛erry, you鈥檝e got a lot of good friends here, you鈥檝e been through a lot here, and you鈥檝e survived all of it,鈥� Beary said. 鈥淎 heartfelt congratulations.鈥�
Hartsfield plans on enjoying his retirement by spending time on his fishing boat and going trap shooting with his friends and UCFPD colleagues.
鈥淚 always said retirement鈥檚 going to be different,鈥� said Hartsfield. 鈥淒oesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 going to be bad, but it鈥檚 certainly going to be different.鈥�