The public was given some insight into the long legacy of the Dallas Police Department on Wednesday.
A ceremony was held by the City to honor the public service seven officers provided for half a century.
“We are grateful for their service and dedication to the department and the City of Dallas,” DPD wrote on Facebook.
While two of the officers honored in the ceremony at City Hall on September 6 are still active employees, one is retired and the others are in the reserve battalion. This means they dedicate a minimum of 16 hours a month to volunteering for the DPD.
Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins awarded each man with a commemorative plaque, and the Dallas City Council gave them a standing ovation.
“Fifty years, that’s a long time. That’s a lifetime. And that’s why they should be recognized,” Atkins said, according to Fox 4 KDFW. “They had never asked for anything. All they asked to do was, ‘Can we serve our city?’”
According to one of the men, recently retired Jerry Rhodes, a lot has changed since he first donned the badge in 1973.
“Back then, people had a lot of respect for police officers,” Rhodes told CBS News Texas. “The camaraderie was a whole lot greater than it is right now.”
Rhodes recalled a number of high and low moments while working with the DPD.
For instance, one lucky call led to him meeting his future wife.
“[A woman’s] daughter was receiving obscene phone calls,” said Rhodes. “I wound up marrying that girl, and I’ve been married for 47 years.”
He even managed to add a sprinkle of fame to his journey by being featured on a local children’s TV program in a segment called “Ask Officer Jerry.” Through this, he aimed to further connect with and give back to the community he served.
Sadly, the lows have stayed with him too.
“My lowest point was seeing the 44-45 police officers killed in the line of duty,” Rhodes said. “Lots of them were friends.”
He remains hopeful that the residents of Dallas and the City will continue to take steps to honor those who wear the badge.