By Abigail Roberts
Jeremy Garrison did not grow up planning or dreaming of becoming a police officer. In fact, it wasn’t something he even considered – that is until he participated in a few fateful ride-alongs with the now Lincoln County Sheriff Shawn Hines.
That was over 20 years ago, when Garrison was about 30 years old, he said.
“It wasn’t like I grew up as a kid ‘Hey I want to be a cop one day’ or anything like that. I hadn’t been around police officers at the time. My family was peaceful,” Garrison said. “Actually I was working an odd-job for Shawn Hines and he asked me to do a ride-along. He said ‘Man with your personality and character, have you ever thought about policing? We need more officers like you.'”
Garrison said he was humbled by the comment and wasn’t sure, but he took Hines up on the offer to ride along a few times.
“I thought, ‘you know, maybe I can help some people in my community and make a little bit of a difference,'” he said. “It seems like the good Lord sent me that way.”
In Feb. 2006, Garrison started his law enforcement career at the Lincoln County Jail. Later that year, Garrison joined the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and completed his Police Academy training.
Garrison remained at the Sheriff’s Office for six years before joining the Stanford Police Department, where he would spend the next 14 years serving the community.
During those 20 years, Garrison said he has seen a lot – the good and the bad. What he loved the most was the people.
“Man, Stanford has it going on. There are some good people there in Stanford,” he said.
Garrison said one of his favorite parts of policing was when he got to witness someone he arrested in the past turn their life around.
“That means so much to me because, even if it was just for one to change from a bad way and bettering their life, that was just awesome to see and hear that in people,” he said. “Myself included, we’re people. Sometimes people make mistakes.”
As Captain, Garrison often handled field-training of new officers and worked to instill the same community policing style in them all.
“That was one of the major things I would try to imprint upon them if they would catch it, hold it and use it: anytime, whatever the call is, when you get out at a traffic stop or call, give that person the benefit of the doubt and speak with them respectfully as if it is your own mother or grandmother,” he said. “For most people, if you show that respect, it usually goes pretty good.”
The Stanford Police Department said in a retirement post on Facebook that Garrison leaves behind a legacy of integrity. SPD posted a video of Garrison as he went ’10-82′ for the final time, signaling the end of his last shift.
“Throughout his career, Captain Garrison has served with professionalism, integrity, and developed sincere friendships to many in this county that has impacted not only this department, but the entire community we serve. His experience, guidance, and presence will be missed,” the department said.
While Garrison spent the last 20 years serving the community, he lost a lot of time with family and friends. Now that he is retired, he said he is planning to make up for that lost time.
“We miss a lot of stuff through time,” he said. “If I’m not mistaken I think I only made two Christmases, two Thanksgivings and two New Years in 20 years, to actually sit down and be with them. I look forward to that.”
Garrison said he didn’t realize it, but his time as a police officer stressed his parents out, something he never intended to happen.
“I want to apologize to them because I sure didn’t mean to bring that upon them,” he said.
While catching up with family is his top priority, Garrison said he also plans to stay busy on his family farm and continue his wood-working hobbies.
“I’ve had an excellent career and I’ve worked under good supervisors and I’ve worked with some good people,” he said.
The bonds he created with fellow officers will live forever, he said.
