SAPD Honors Retiring Sergeant After 36 Years of Service

SAN ANGELO, TX – The San Angelo Police Department Friday afternoon celebrated Sergeant Fred Sturm for his 36 years of service during his retirement ceremony.

A Tom Green County native and a graduate of Central High School, Sgt. Sturm has been part of the San Angelo community all his life. He graduated with a criminal justice degree from Howard College and joined SAPD in 1983.

“The years have gone by tremendously quick it seems like,” said Sgt. Sturm. “It seems like it was just the other day I was getting sworn in at the police department.”

In 1988, Sturm was promoted to Master Police Officer and in 1997 he was promoted to sergeant. During his time at SAPD, Sturm was a part of the patrol and criminal investigation division.

WATCH: SAPD Honors Sergeant After 36 Years of Service

During the ceremony, Chief Carter recalled the dedication of Sgt. Sturm as he worked his way through the ranks. Starting off as an officer in a patrol unit to becoming a sergeant in the criminal investigations division, Sturm has been in integral part of the SAPD. During his years of service, he received multiple commendations from the city, businesses and law enforcement agencies. 

The chief thanked the sergeant for his years of dedication to the community and asked that he remember that the fraternity he created with the officers of SAPD would last a lifetime.

At the ceremony Sgt. Sturm received a certificate of retirement, a commemorative pen, a retirement plaque, and a U.S. flag that had flown above the SAPD headquarters. The San Angelo Police Officer Association also presented Sturm with a retirement badge.

During his address to attendees, Sgt. Sturm thanked his wife and family for being by his side during all his years of service and understanding that the whole family makes sacrifices when their loved one is part of the force.

“It takes a special wife to stay with a policeman,” said Sturm.

He took a moment to thank all the officers present and remember those who were no longer on this earth but had been his teachers and instructors when he began his career.

Sturm knows the police department is in good hands a new generation of officers takes on the duty of keeping the city safe.

“They are all good officers. A lot of them I have trained, and I know they are going to do a fantastic job,” said Sturm. “Hopefully they have as much time as I did in it and the Lord will watch over them just like He watched over me for so many years.”

The sergeant also had words of encouragement for anyone considering a career in public service.

“It’s a wonderful career. If I could do it over, I’d start today again,” said Sturm. “Any young man or woman that is looking at this profession, takes a real good heart to really want to have to do this job.”

After Sgt. Sturm’s ceremony was completed, Chief Carter also promoted three officers to the rank of sergeant. Sgt. Michael Gaeta joined SAPD 1999, Sgt. Joe Walston, Sr. joined in 2008, and Sgt. Patrick Garrett in 2012. Collectively the offices had served in the patrol, criminal investigations, and street crimes division.

According to Chief Carter, the officers were selected for promotion “for what you have done... and our belief that you can do more.” The chief then administered the oath that finalized the promotion of the Gaeta, Walston, and Garrett. Family members of the three officers were invited to the front to pin the new badges on the newly sworn-in sergeants.

A small reception was held for Sgt. Sturm, Gaeta, Walston, and Garrett.