In 34 years of law enforcement, Deputy Jodie Hebdon has met a lot of people.
For the past 16 years of his career he has been a School Resource Officer at BOCES.
“I have been here for students and staff,” says Hebdon with a tear and a smile.
“I’m a safe family, father type figure who is a mentor, it is a wonderful feeling.”
Hebdon says he has helped many kids and staff at BOCES, sometimes dealing with issues that show people’s worst side.
“Quite frankly, a lot of the kids here look at me as their father figure, most of these kids are here for reasons you can’t imaging and to go to school and have a police officer in uniform come up to you and at least acknowledge you is a big thing.”
“They feel good being here cause I’m here and the students now understand what it is to be a police officer.”
Hebdon was honored for his 34 years of service at the BOCES Campus on Friday afternoon.
Current and past school staff and fellow local law enforcement showed up to wish Hebdon well.
With experience as a Jail Supervisor, Court Deputy, Lead Hostage Negotiator, Road Patrol and experience with the Mounted Division, Hebdon’s experience in law enforcement has spanned many areas.
The large room at BOCES was very crowded.
While Hebdon is happy to retire and spend more time at home with his wife of 42 years, who also retired recently as a working Nurse in Labor and Delivery, tears and hugs were the order of the afternoon.
Hebdon says he raises horses and will be catching up on things that need to be done at home. He plans on going to Florida January through April and come back to WNY the rest of the year.
Hebdon and his wife raised 5 children and they worked off shifts and did not see each other much over the years.
“We made it, my wife and I, and I think we deserve a little time to ourselves now.”
Deputy Chad Cummings, who is originally from Boston, Massachusetts and is currently on road patrol in the LeRoy area for the Sheriff’s Office, will be taking Hebdons place at BOCES.
Cummings has been training with Hebdon the past few weeks.
“It takes a special person to acknowledge and challenge kids, Deputy Chad Cummings has a military background and is a charming person and knows what it takes to do this job, and he loves to be with kids.”
Hebdon says he considers it lucky to be able to work at a school.
“I am one of the lucky ones, I had the chance to affect people here. To be able to work in a school is a nice thing, cause out on the road they aren’t calling you to have a cop over and have some fun, no, we see people at their worst whether it be at an accident or whatever.”
“I am thankful that I have been able to retire from police work and still feel good about myself and about people.”