I retired from the Army on May 1st, 2002 and was sworn in as a civilian Police Chief in the same ceremony.
Served two years as a Chief of Police at Austin Peay State University outside FT Campbell, then 5 years with Wackenhut Services Inc--the last 4 as Chief of Security Police, Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral.
The smoke cleared, the family got sorted out, and I had a chance to get back into the fight, with the support of my bride who is still a great "Army wife."
Spent 2009 as Country Program Manager, MPRI's Law Enforcement Professionals in Iraq, then with the 101st and my son (4/10th Mtn) heading there--took the same position in Afghanistan from 2010-2011.
After 24 out of 27 months in Iraq and Afghanistan, I headed back to Ellen, the townhouse in Satellite Beach, and some time out on our boat for some extended trips including Key West.
Other Comments:
Grateful to have packed so much into a 20-year career and despite that short time, I am the only MP Officer in history that commanded an MP Station, a combat support MP Company, a CID Crime Lab, a Confinement Facility, and a Battalion (Provisional).
Thank God for the leaders I had (three in the MP Hall of Fame); the NCO's I served with (three who became Regimental Command Sergeant Major); and--especially--thank God for our soldiers. Just from my 108th MP Co command alone--My former XO became a Brigade Commander, my PFC-driver became a Lieutenant Colonel, and one of my PFC / M60 Gunners is became the Regimental Chief Warrant Officer of the MP Corps.
