Updated on Jan. 18, 2018 — The Guthrie City Council on January 16 approved the permanent retirement of Guthrie Police Badge No. 14 and authorized the awarding of the badge and Lieutenant Gary Haddock’s service weapon (Glock 22) as a token of appreciation and respect for his 23 years of faithful service to the City of Guthrie Police Department and the Guthrie Community.
Original Story on Jan. 8, 2018
After 23 years of service with the Guthrie Police Department, Lieutenant Gary Haddock announced he will retire on January 12.
Lt. Haddock joined the department in January 1995 and served the citizens of Guthrie as a patrol officer until he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1998. He was admitted the Logan County – Special Response Team (SRT) in 1999. Haddock was then promoted to Lieutenant in 2002, where he was assigned the additional task of Field Training Officer Coordinator. In 2014, he took on another additional function as the Reserve Officer Coordinator and has completed these assignments with distinction since.
“The members of the Guthrie Police Department are both excited for his next chapter in life and melancholy over losing the leadership Lt. Haddock has provided in his long service to our beloved city,” Sgt. Jeremy Thorne said. “He echoes our commitment to excellence in saying we will always be here for you.”
Gary Haddock (R) was recognized by Police Chief Don Sweger at the Guthrie City Council meeting on Tuesday.
Lt. Haddock was asked his most memorable moments in his 23 year career and recalled one night while working on the midnight shift.
“A third officer and myself were at the GMS (Guthrie Municipal Services) gas pumps, back in the days when we had our own fuel service. (The officer) said ‘did you see that?’ Up in the sky there were three lights shaped like a triangle, it hovered over and then disappeared very quickly. We all decided we wouldn’t say anything, but we just couldn’t keep quiet and did eventually say something. Boy, did we get teased over that. We later discovered officers in New Mexico saw the same thing at approximately the same time.”
Haddock said his most cherished moment happened just a few months ago when he was approached by a woman thanking him for a traffic stop that he conducted over 20 years ago.
“I stopped a van on Pine and Industrial for an expired tag,” Haddock recalled. “The driver also had no license and no insurance. I discovered her husband had just been released from prison. I went back to the vehicle, and after realizing that these people were extremely poor and needed a hand, told her I really don’t know why I’m doing this but I’m going to let you go on. You get everything taken care of before I see you again because I will not be giving you this break a second time.”
Haddock would never see the van again until just a few months ago.
“A woman walks up to me while I’m in a local pawn shop and says ‘I wanted to thank you for saving me and my family years ago.’ ‘You helped us to survive that night by giving us that break and letting us go on.’”
Haddock said he really didn’t remember her until she told him the story.
“It’s pretty amazing people will remember you and your words” said Haddock. “For us, we will go on and continue to do what we do. Then one day, they come back to thank you.”
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