Sgt. Jason Garlock will wrap up a 25-year career with the Lima Police Department with his retirement on Friday.
J Swygart | The Lima News
LIMA — The surname Garlock has been synonymous with the City of Lima for decades, especially within the walls of the Lima Police Department.
On Friday, a fourth-generation member of that lineage will hang up his badge for good when Sgt. Jason Garlock ends a 25-year career in law enforcement with his retirement from the LPD.
The decision to retire came about rather quickly, he said.
“I was beginning to get a little burned out, and I knew it was time,” Garlock said Thursday, adding that he wants to spend more time with his five children and enjoy life at a slower pace.
Garlock nonetheless said his retirement comes at a time when the LPD is on an “upward swing.”
“In the past couple of years, it’s become a place where people want to work here again. The people that work here are excited to come to work,” he said. “The department is as young as I have ever seen in my 25 years, and it gives me hope that word of mouth, recruitment efforts, officer professionalism and social media postings are all significant ways to promote this department and shed a positive light on the Lima Police Department. The department has to change with the times, and there are a lot of young, forward-thinking leaders steering the ship in the right direction.”
Small bites of the apple
Garlock said the role of a police officer can be rewarding, but it can also be demanding and exhausting. He offered some advice to those who will follow him.
“This job can consume you if you let it,” he said. “A career in law enforcement is a series of days. Take small bites of the apple, a little at a time. Do not attempt to eat the whole apple at once. Some days you win and some you lose, but one thing is for sure: There’s always another day. Try every day to help someone, make a difference in the world and always go home safe.”
Garlock said he worked in tandem with former LPD Chief Angel Cortes to develop an Officer Wellness Program to help cops deal with trauma and stress.
“My dad (former chief Greg Garlock) once said to me that as police officers we rarely hear about the good days that people have — the picnics, school programs, vacations, the happy family moments,” he said. “People don’t call the police when they are having one of those memorable days. People call us and need us at their lowest moments, looking for our help and assistance, looking for solutions in their worst hour. That takes a toll on us physically, emotionally and mentally.
“For the next generation of officers, if I were to give some advice I’ve learned over a very long career, it’s that this career isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Take the good with the bad and find an outlet for the bad. Take one day at a time and do your best not to get overwhelmed with the negative and evil we see. Do not miss out on the perfect moments with your family, yourself and most importantly with your children.”
Family, friends, community
Garlock said family, co-workers and members of the community gave him the strength necessary to wear the badge for 25 years.
“I want to thank my LPD family for all the support through the years. Thanks also to my dad, my mom, my sister and brother, my five children and most importantly my wife Manda, whose love, devotion and never-wavering faith in me that made this all possible,” he said. “I also want to thank the citizens of Lima with whom I have made lasting friendships for the opportunity to serve them and be a part of this community.”
A graduate of Lima Central Catholic High School, Garlock started his career in law enforcement in March 1998 as a community service officer and became a full-time member of the department on May 14, 1999. He gained the rank of sergeant on May 1, 2007, and in June of 2015 was appointed as the Community Oriented Policing sergeant and has served as the investigative sergeant for the department’s detective bureau since 2018.
Garlock’s career followed in the footsteps of his father, Greg, who retired as chief of the Lima Police Department in April 2011 after a career that spanned 40 years, and his grandfather Joseph, who was a detective with the LPD. A great-grandfather, also named Joseph, worked for the city’s utility department. Several aunts, uncles and cousins were or still are employed in law enforcement position.
Jason worked for five chiefs of police during his career. In addition to his father Greg, the others included Frank Catlett, Kevin Martin, Cortes and current Chief Jim Baker.
