My final shift is tomorrow..........

[Capt. Jack McQuesten]

Well fellow troopers,

Tomorrow, after 30 years of fighting crime, I am turning in my badge, hanging up the spurs and riding off into the sunset. I can tell you that it has been quite a ride! Wow, it seems like just yesterday that I did my first solo shift on patrol. Man, that S&W .357 magnum, M-28 Highway Patrolman revolver hanging off a brand spanking new Sam Browne belt sure seemed to weigh a ton!

I actually started my career in 1974 as a Police Cadet for a local City PD. It was a small agency (18 sworn, including the Chief, Captain & Sgt's). I became a Reserve Officer there in 1977 and was promoted to a full-time Officer in 1978. After a few years there on patrol, I decided that I needed to "See the world", so I left the PD and joined the Sheriff's Office. This was an agency of 200 sworn and, of course, covered the entire county and had a lot more activity for a fire-breathing, chomping at the bit, righteous young trooper.

I stayed there for the next 16 years and then transferred to the D.A.'s office. This is a day-shift, weekends and holidays off gig, which worked out great for raising the kids (the bride is a police dispatcher, so both of us on shift work was really tough!). I have been with the D.A.'s office for 12 years. For the last 8 years, I have been assigned to a multi-agency, multi-county, computer crimes Task Force as a forensic computer examiner (Basically a computer CSI type of guy).

This last week has been bittersweet for me. While I do look forward to starting a new chapter in my life, I will truly miss the guys and gals that I have had the pleasure and honor to "Ride the river" with. So to those of you who have done your time and have hung up the badge, can I ask ya to please move over a bit and allow another retired brother to sit by the fire.....to those troopers that remain on the job, keep up the good work and stay safe out there......

Arabela Kid

[Top Kick Ken]

Congratulations.  Be safe tomorrow and remember that you need to get home safe at the end of your shift!  The coffee pot is still on the fire; c'mon in and sit a spell.  I am sure we can rustle up some stronger libation if the coffeee isn't what you want. 

Thank you for your service.

Top Kick Ken

[SFT]

Come, warm yourself by the fire, and tell us of your life, your family, and of all the people that have called you "help" over the years.

[California Lawdawg]

Congratulations on your retirement and welcome aboard Pard. Lots and lots of fine cowboys here.


Lawdawg

[Texas Lawdog]

My last day has been postponed for almost 10 days due my case of shingles that won't go away. I still have the chicken pox symptoms so I'm still contagious.

[SFT]

My last day has been postponed for almost 10 days due my case of shingles that won't go away. I still have the chicken pox symptoms so I'm still contagious.

Ow!  That can be painful, I hope your symptoms subside quickly and you can get everything done.  The fire will still be warm and your chair will still be here.

[Capt. Jack McQuesten]

Thank for the kind words gang. It means a lot to me. I have been retired now for two whole days and it feels pretty great !!!!!

Texas Lawdawg, hang in there partner. I hope you get better soon and join us by the fire......

Arabela Kid

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Arabela Kid 

      Congratulations Pard, and Welcome to the" GREAT NEW WORLD OF RETIREMENT", I hope you will enjoy it, after 30 years of service you deserve to have a great rest of your life.


                                                                  Best Regards 

                                                                 tEN wOLVES 

             

[Utah Bob]

Well drag another rockin chair over by the stove. Congratulations! Retirement rocks. I highly recommend it!

[Forty Rod]

Been a week now.  Another three or four days and you can get that stupid smile off your face and start planning on ways to waste time.          

[Charlie Bowdre]

Kid , Congrats on a job well done .
It has been 2 years for me , seems like 2 days . I wouldn't trade the 34 years for a pot of gold BUT boy oh boy the last 2 have been grand .

Sit back , relax , catch up on the next 30 .

Best to you and your family

Dutchy
Retired Mun.Police and RCMP (Feds)

[Texas Lawdog]

I'm takin' my retirement papers in today. I'm all scabbed over and I've still gotta a lot of pain in the nerves in my shoulder. I put in 38 years as a police officer and deputy sheriff. I don't know if I'm done yet. I'm going to take some more time off and make up my mind.

[Texas Lawdog]

"The Deed It Is Done"  MacBeth    It took about 2 hours to go from Deputy Sheriff to civilian. My last offical day is Tuesday. I'm still on sick leave with the shingles.  Maybe it will soak in next week.

[Capt. Jack McQuesten]

"The Deed It Is Done"  MacBeth    It took about 2 hours to go from Deputy Sheriff to civilian. My last offical day is Tuesday. I'm still on sick leave with the shingles.  Maybe it will soak in next week.

Texas Lawdog,

Good for you mister! It is a great, but kind of weird feeling that's for sure! I have just finished my first whole week of being retired and I am loving it !

Good luck to ya partner!

[Elmer Watson]

Congradulations on retirement but if you still want to make a difference may I suggest teaching as a second career?  I am actually reaching more kids now and hopefully getting them off the downward path.  I teach special needs kids who are traditionally a prime target for recruitment in our local gangs.  Anyway what ever you do have fun.

Teaching can be a challenge.  My wife teaches 8th grade science and our nephew was visiting her classroom on leave fromhis third tour in  Iraq.  He asked her how she could do what she did.  She asked if if he might like to teach He replied " teach 8th graders or go back to Iraq ?"  he paused and then said  "at least in Iraq I can shoot back" 

Teaching can be rewarding.  One of our teachers retired as a sgt from our local PD.  He has a student teacher in his room who just retired as a Lt. for the same PD.  A little good natured pay back can be fun.

[Capt. Jack McQuesten]

Well gang, I lasted a whole five months before I ended up being asked by my agency to come back on a part time basis to help out doing some CSI stuff. So for the last couple of years, I have spent my time between the Department, my "Honey do" list and trips out my place in New Mexico. As of June 14th of this year, I ended my "Second Tour", so to speak.

Earlier this month, we sold the homestead in California, moved the kids out, packed up the wagons and headed out to the cabin in New Mexico! The lovely bride still has a couple of months to go before she can retire, so I will be busy getting the cabin ship shape for her arrival. 

We will be living at the cabin for a couple of years and eventually we are hoping to build some sort of hacienda out at our ranch property. I plan on joining the "Lincoln County Regulators" SASS group if they will have an old Northern Yankee law dawg...... !

Hope to meet y'alls on the trail.....Stay safe!

[Coal Creek Griff]

Well, congratulations again.  Enjoy yourself--we've got your back.

CC Griff