Longtime Lakewood Police Officer Rodney Youmans Retires

humans that's number 250. 25 degrees [Applause] so um I know Rodney's looking forward to his life after uh LPD that's what the plans to go to Florida and some trips back and forth here to uh to his hometown visit family and his grandchildren so on so Rodney started in January 20th 1998 so almost 25 years ago I remember around the started I was here as a sergeant and Rodney worked for me a couple different ships and platoons and you name it the we were together in 2009 Rodney received a life-saving award for renting the first aid to a staffing victim along with other officers here that happened near the high school June 22nd 2009. that individual was treated for his wounds then he backed up Jersey Shore and survived and Rodney Lucy the late saving award for those horrible connections and I'm sure there are many others but this was one that one that we could find and put put pen to paper on for today so distinguished officer No Doubt and as I said I have the privilege to be Robbie's supervisor and I'll tell you a quick funny little story that I've done pretty well I'm sure Roger but it was dispatched monthly drive from reportable Wolf running along the jogger path around that time after he was dispatched this call there was a deputy chief got here and we had a little debate over there and it wasn't a wolf it was a wolfhound or something that deputy chief thought that it wasn't all that was a wolf hound because someone over a new Central Avenue had a wolfhound so Rodney calls me on the radio and says this is a wolf I see it can I shoot him you know can I shoot it can I take it out so now Sergeant on the road giving your guy permission to take a shot you're you're a little nervous about you know saying you know if I had to take a shot so talk about it yeah if you can you know if it's a safe shot use down the path down the Ravine by the lake that's all put you know cable permission to take a shot [Music] when that happened so I said okay no more and he said but it ran off which was a good thing we later saw it by the college I did see it definitely was a wolf it wasn't someone's pet which uh which remember do you remember that there you go but uh that was a memorable moment I'll never forget so I want to share that um Brian Wilson did some other uh shooting one of the duty no I you know you're missing with the pistol you go to the next bigger thing which is the shotgun and see Rodney uh that's okay that was that was good though but you know uh there's 25 years he's certainly seen it all Donna wants everything he wants to do here and um having to be able to see you out the door and in one piece to your family yes and no love quotes and I know Ryan's decided for his 35 years of service fire department past fire chief so we share the Sheep bug and I remember when you were far as you remember we were both halves it was always interesting so um well we'll certainly miss you and I'm going to turn the mic over anybody else wants to go out and say something before Rodney gets up here and uh he's got a little speech prepared and I'm sure will be good I want to thank everybody for attending today um the last 25 years of my life I've been here and before that I was in Del Mar from almost five years this is special I graduated from Monmouth County Police Academy as well as coaching doctors and it's BJ good morning here I'm also a proud member of the theme Georgie Porter University I was one of 14 people in my group um and we were hired back in 1998 and when we went to the academy we formed those bonds and then we spend time up in that classroom for the old building and it's 100 degrees and then we have all these PT sessions here in kind words such as stop go back you're too slow or you're pathetic and so on and so on so my good buddy Danny torkowski and one of the men in my one of the best men in my weddings that my emotions on my sleeve I do and Junior Vegas said that I would cry during this ceremony that I'm trying to prove it a little more so so I entered this profession with a realistic view that I couldn't save but hopefully you can make a difference from time to time in somebody's life sometimes you see things that no one should change you the loss of a child or just in general the loss of someone and their family agreement is tough and I want to take time to remember those I've served with who sadly did not make it to the end Walter Butchy Kern 183. William Nichi Pressler 270. Christopher matlos badge number 317. Mariano Mario Junior Gumbel badge number 253 Craig Lawson badge number three five Ned shimanovich badge number 392. the captain Joseph just call me Joe Hertz Cash number 251 I want to thank Chief Meyer for his leadership kindness and friendship [Music] that's good I want to thank Sacramento which I've been a part of for 17 years and I want to thank all the members Mike brute Sergeant Danny kurkhoski but here I may be calling him for Janet Dan and Mike McCain Sean Doyle Sergeant Chris Magnolia Sergeant Robbie Manning Sergeant Murray McCarthy detective Robert Anderson Sergeant Leon Woods Truman Joe from all qualiano and Sergeant Steve Berner and detective Lynn Miller my family's here today my wife Danielle thanks for putting up with me thank you so much you're saying my children Jen Alex Sean and Brandon thank you my sister Debbie and her husband Lane thank you for your love and support and my nephew is Matthew and Christopher badge number 391. but yeah Hold the Line your time is coming um [Laughter] finally there's some quotes in the room that I just want to go they'll acknowledge that they're looking down I wish they were still here Dan the lowest magnolo Larry branch mom and dad I love you well that's pretty much it so with that said I'm stepping down God bless and oh yes be well [Applause] congratulations 250 liquid [Music] s