The Hot Springs Police Department bid an emotional farewell Friday to retiring Assistant Police Chief Chris Chapmond, who has accepted a job as the police chief of Bluffton, S.C.
Hot Springs Police Chief Jason Stachey said it was "extremely bittersweet" for him, personally, during the retirement ceremony, which was held in an upstairs meeting room at the police department.
"On the one hand, I am happy for Chris and the next step he is taking in his professional law enforcement career. But at the same time, I will be missing a dear friend, colleague and, figuratively speaking, my right hand. This department and city will also be missing a friend, ally, and advocate who has called Hot Springs home his entire life," Stachey said.
Chapmond, a 22-year veteran of the police department, has served as assistant Hot Springs police chief since June 2016. He applied for the Bluffton position about four months ago, joining more than 60 other applicants from 24 states and two other countries.
Interim City Manager Bill Burrough, who has known Chapmond since childhood, said "even then, Chris has always done the right thing. Integrity was just part of his fabric. I remember it when we were kids; I still remember it today. When I think about you, that's the first thing that comes to my mind. Honor and integrity."
"What an adventure," Chapmond told the overflow crowd, which included present and former officers, Sheriff Mike McCormick and Under Sheriff Jason Lawrence, along with members of the Hot Springs Civil Service Commission and City Director Randy Fale.
After thanking his family, Chapmond noted the different generations of police officers in the room, saying it meant a lot to him to see men and women who "believed in me enough to develop my leadership and to give me opportunities along the way."
Chapmond recognized one, in particular -- retired Capt. Kenneth Schildgen, "one of my all-time heroes," whom Chapmond met about 10 minutes after he got on the job.
"I didn't even have a gun or a badge ... and he asked me what size jersey I wore. I honest to God got a softball jersey and a hat before I got a gun and a badge. We played that night, by the way," Chapmond said as the crowd laughed.
Chapmond also singled out his friendship and professional relationship with Lawrence, saying they had "a lot of great times in this community, working together and showing the citizens of Garland County and Hot Springs that there's a heart behind the badge, and that there's so much more to policing in today's world than just putting bad guys in jail. That it encompasses all of these different hats and many, many more."
Local on 08/18/2018