When a police officer decides to hang up his uniform, and holster his weapon for the last time, there\u2019s as much sadness as joy mixed into the special occasion. A career in law enforcement isn\u2019t something an individual undertakes lightly. It\u2019s a weighty decision that requires a great deal of thought and training. And the risk involved with the daily operations means working as a police officer has a heightened sense of importance. Perhaps that\u2019s why police officer retirement is so bittersweet. It\u2019s an occasion that should be celebrated, but it\u2019s also a time for reflection.<\/p>\n
Deciding on a Gift<\/strong><\/p>\n Sweet or sentimental? Fun or functional? It\u2019s not always easy to decide on the tone of a gift for police officer retirement. Some general guidelines should be; know your audience, lead with your heart, and choose something with staying power. You want the gift to say \u201chappy retirement\u201d but also, \u201cwhat a legacy you\u2019ve left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n Memories:<\/em><\/strong> An obvious way to mark retirement is to collect and present career memories. A leather photo album with pictures and press clippings, a wooden box filled with handwritten notes from colleagues, performance reviews and commendations. Or simply find a favorite quote or saying<\/a> from the force and engrave it on a beautiful plaque<\/a>. There\u2019s no way to go wrong when involving memory.<\/p>\n The Future:<\/em><\/strong> If your retiring police officer has big plans for retirement, why not play into that? If he plans on devoting his time to woodworking, buy him his first set of workshop tools. If she\u2019s planning to move closer to nature, why not outfit her with top of the line hiking gear and a gift card to a health food store? If the retiring police officer wants to travel, a new set of luggage might be the perfect gift. Celebrate by helping the retiring police officer look ahead.<\/p>\n