The longest-serving law enforcement officer in Maryland has retired at age 84.
Lt. Thomas B. Jacocks completed his last tour of duty Wednesday after more than 61 years on the job. The Montgomery County Police Department thanked him with a retirement party attended by many retired police officers.
"I'm honored to present to you your retired badge for 61 years of service. Congratulations," Police Chief Tom Manger said to applause.
Jacocks joined the department in July 1955 and rose through the ranks, working in the 2nd District, 3rd District, 4th District, Juvenile Aid Bureau and Warrant and Fugitive Bureau, plus as a court liaison officer.
He said his favorite job was working on the fugitive squad.
Former Police Chief Donald Brooks said he was not surprised that Jacocks worked for so long.
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"When I retired, I had 42 years on and he accused me of bailing out early," Brooks said.
Jacocks was born in D.C. in 1932 and said when he was 6 years old that he wanted to be an officer, according to family members. He graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in 1951 and enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his military tour ended, he became and officer.
The father of five dedicated more than 30 years of service to the Maryland Special Olympics program.
Jacocks has seen great changes in the police department and Montgomery County in the course of his career. On his first day, he was one of 180 officers serving a population of about 200,000, police said. As he retired, he was one of more than 1,200 officers serving a population of more than 1 million.
Jacocks retired, but he is not leaving the police department, according to his wife, Peggy Jacocks.
"He will be coming back as a volunteer to finish the detail that they assigned him to," she said.
