After nearly three decades working for a South Jersey police department, police sergeant finished his final shift before retirement and his son was in the dispatch center to take his final call.
Douglas Hogate Sr., 50, signed off the air Thursday with a heartfelt good-bye as his son, a Salem County dispatcher, was on the other end to receive the final call and his daughter, Jenna Keen, captured the moment on camera.
He served well for 28 years. Salem City, N.J. Police Sgt. Douglas Hogate Sr., badge #612, made his final end-of-shift dispatch call. Then, an emotional moment. The voice of his son, Douglas Hogate Jr., a dispatcher with the city for nine years, comes over the radio to send his dad on his way for the final time.
“It is my honor to…acknowledge this Code 3 to the greatest man I know,” Hognate Jr. said over the police radio.
Hogate’s daughter Jenna Keen, who recorded the special moment said,“My dad did one final ride through Salem and it was cool because it was like just us kids again. We grew up at the police station and he’s been an officer all of our lives. It was an emotional time,”
His son’s acknowledgement is below.
“Salem County to all local cars and stations. It is with great pleasure to announce that as of 1800 hours on this date, after 28 years of service my father, Salem City Police Sgt. Douglas Hogate Sr., Badge number 612, is retiring and has given his final Code 3. It’s my honor as Salem County PST Douglas Hogate Jr. to acknowledge this Code 3 to the greatest man I know. Salem City Police sergeant, Douglas Hogate Sr., Badge number 612, you are officially Code 3 at 1800 hours.”
For more details about the actual conversation, please watch the video below.
Although he’s retired, his home remains in the heart of Salem, surrounded by those who support local law enforcement.
Article Sources: So Share This, Daily Mail
Video Credit: NJ.com/Youtube – Courtesy Of Jenna Keen
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