CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The Clarksville Police Department will hold a retirement ceremony Friday at 9:00 a.m. for six officers will a combined total of 160 years in law enforcement. The event, which is open to the public, will be held at First Baptist Church, 435 Commerce Street.

According to Clarksville Police Department spokesman Jim Knoll, this will be the largest single group of officers retiring at one time in recent memory.

City Councilwoman Kay Jones, President of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, told ClarksvilleNow.com that this will also be the first time officers will be presented with specially designed signet rings, provided by the CPA Alumni.

"One of the things we decided last year was to provide a ring for officers with 25 or more years of service and for officers with 15 year, a custom watch," Jones said.

Prior to now the upcoming retirement ceremony, previous ceremonies were minimal.

"They got cake and peanuts," according to Jones, "and that didn't seem appropriate for people that have given so much to the city."

Jones said the Alumni will present three rings and two watches at Friday's event, and this is the first time rings will be given at the time of the actual ceremony.

The officers retiring are:

Lt Bill Carney
Lt Harold Tucker
Officer Andy Bechtold
Officer Richard Brown
Officer Booker Dailey
Officer Tomas Ortiz

"When they retire, they have hard earned that time and we want to be able to say thank you in an appropriate way," Jones said.

Parking for the event is available on First Baptist’s Church parking lot which is located across from 412 Commerce Street. The parking lot is located on Commerce Street between Hiter Street and Childers Street. Even though the slots are marked “RESERVED” on the parking lot, they are available for general parking. Entrance can be made through downstairs doors at 412 Commerce which be open for entrance to the retirement ceremony.



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