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Retiring His Shield

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By LISA A. DAVIS

ldavis@tampatrib.com

Published: October 10, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - When Darryl Garman became an officer in Pasco County's most populous city 25 years ago, things were much different than they are now.

The police station was in a small building on Grand Boulevard which, instead of having holding cells, had a single bolt on the floor to which scofflaws could be handcuffed. Cruisers weren't equipped with any sort of computers, let alone the laptops they now have. And index cards were used to look up the records of locals who had run-ins with city police, a far cry from today's luxury of simply punching a name into a universal database.

And over the years, Garman, 49, has risen through the ranks from patrolman to assistant chief. And he's not the same man he used to be - at least in some ways. Let's just say sunscreen must be applied a top his head when he's not wearing his hat. And his uniforms might be a different size than during those early years. We'll leave it at that.

These are all things Garman, who officially retires from the New Port Richey Police Department today, is the first to admit.

On a recent morning in his office he strolls over to the gray, metal locker he moved from the old building to the department on Adams Street. Its door is still is tagged "Lt. Garman" - two ranks ago.

"You want to know how you know you've been here too long?" he asks, opening the locker and grabbing something from the top shelf.

He pulls out a hair brush and holds it out in front of him. No need to explain.

That's Garman. He's witty, enjoys making others laugh, is an excellent communicator and a consummate professional law enforcement officer.

Though his sense of humor has been paramount in his career ("Most of the time a little humor can diffuse a situation," he said.) a major factor in his decision to become a cop was serious business.

He points to a photo of his cousin Lonnie Coburn on the window ledge above his desk.

On Feb. 21, 1978, Coburn was fatally shot when he confronted two men robbing a convenience store in Ridge Manor. Just hours before, the men had raped, beaten and shot a 21-year-old woman who was seven months pregnant. Coburn, 25, was jumped by one of the men while the other, Freddie Lee Hall, now on death row, grabbed Coburn's pistol and shot him in the side.

A few months later, Garman started working at the Hernando County Sheriff's Office in corrections and then went to the police academy. He worked as a patrol deputy until he was lured by a friend to New Port Richey, where he's been ever since.

"I am going to miss working with the individuals in the community and the people at this agency," he said. "It's been a blast."

'A Lot Of Fun'

He has fond memories to look back on, including working with the Secret Service when then Vice President Dan Quayle once came to town and then when President George W. Bush rolled his campaign bus into the city during the 2004 election.

"Talk about culture shock," he chuckled. "That was a lot of fun."

Among his career credits is being the first officer to set up those concrete barriers along city parade routes to help with safety, particularly during the Chasco Fiesta. Garman was a founding member of the department's dive team used in underwater searches and recovery. He was part of the design team for the new police station and for years served as public information officer, the department's liaison to the media. But the thing he considers his legacy is that he played a key role in hiring many of those officers he leaves behind.

"They're a hard-working group of officers," he said proudly.

One of his most difficult tasks over the years was probably one of his last: writing his resignation letter.

"You should've seen me writing my retirement letter," Garman said. "I had tears in my eyes."

Jackie Close remembers when she was a young officer and Garman was showing her the ropes.

"I hated him," she said matter-of-factly while Garman stood near by. "He was mean and ugly."

No, she wasn't kidding. That's what she really thought back then, but the fact was Garman was hard on her to make her a better cop. When it came time for her field training test, though, it was Garman who sat with her through the night helping her study.

"He was the first person I called when I passed," she said. "After that things worked out quite well."

'He'll Be Missed'

Close, who's been a detective and now is the department communications supervisor, considers Garman a good friend.

"He'll be missed by everyone," she said fondly.

Another close friend is Chief Martin Rickus. He and Garman started about the same time and climbed the ladder together.

"There can only be one chief and that ended up being me but he could've easily have done the job," Rickus said.

Rickus credits Garman with being a big part of changing the department for the better and keeping it up with the times.

"He's definitely left his mark," he said.

Rickus said that many emotions have been running through his mind as Garman departs and that it's "almost disbelief it's gone so fast and it's time for him to go," he said. "I'm sad to see him go."

While Garman looks to the future it's hard to shake off the past.

"Leaving here is bittersweet," he said. "Many of those guys are not just fellow officers, I consider them part of my extended family."

But he plans on sticking around, showing up for community events and will at least for a little while be a reserve officer.

"I'm a homegrown, Brooksville born and bred, but this is just as much my home as Brooksville," he said.

He also has plans in his home county of Hernando. He will one day run for county commission.

"I think based on the experience I have here putting together budgets, working with the community, seeing what works and doesn't work, I have a good background," Garman said.

In the meantime, though, he'll trade in his blues for loud tropical shirts and flip-flops. He'll enjoy fishing, boating, golfing and riding his Yamaha motorcycle throughout Florida. And of course, he looks forward to spending more time with his teenage daughter and son and his wife, Kelly.

"She's got a honey-do list all drawn up," he said.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.

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