For Raymond Vaughan it was tears shed as his retirement from 28 years on the town's police department was honored. For Melvin Garner it was his promotion to chief, a position Vaughan held since 1988.

“He's taught me so much,” Garner said of Vaughan, before the two were formally honored by the Garysburg town board. “Professionalism, a lot of respect from officers in the area. He's definitely a role model. He wouldn't ask us to do anything he wouldn't do himself.”

(Garysburg will honor Vaughan with a program on June 27 at 6 p.m. at the town hall. The town board also officially gave Officer Patrick Jacobs his sergeant stripes and welcomed Tommy Staton as a new part-time officer.)

Vaughan, in turn, believes Garner is the right choice to lead the department. “Melvin has great leadership abilities. He loves law enforcement. Melvin is a person who can talk to anybody. He enjoys counseling youth. He's got a lot of concern for the youth of the community.”

Vaughan came to the Garysburg Police Department in 1987, just before the community began to see a spike in the drug trade. “It took about six years to clean up Garysburg,” he said. “It's like night and day. It's a much brighter community.”

The former Garysburg Elementary School now has a library and its gym is used for sports, while the town has a Dollar General Store. “It still has land the town is trying to develop.”

Vaughan is presented his service weapon and badges.

Of his 37 total years, Vaughan spent 28 in Garysburg. He started as a special deputy under Sheriff Frank Outland, working in Rich Square, Woodland and Garysburg.

For Vaughan, the best years of his career came in working with the town board and the town's citizens, and even in retirement he will continue to offer his services as he is treasurer of the library and a member of the fire department.

When Vaughan first arrived there were a few ordinances that weren't on the books that he needed to help better police the town. “I'll never forget I saw a guy walking down the street drinking beer. We didn't have an ordinance for that. We've changed so many ordinances. We have a dog ordinance, a junked car ordinance in place, a curfew for youth. There's been several ordinance changes that worked for the betterment of the town.”

Vaughan's weapon and badges.

The people, however, make up Vaughan's fondest memories. “I've seen children that weren't even born that are now 28-years-old. The people have become family to me.”

Before the town board opened its regular meeting, longtime Garysburg Mayor Roy Bell said he was always struck by Vaughan's mild demeanor, which more times than not overshadowed the moxie of a veteran law enforcement officer. “I could always count on Raymond to get it done. He always treated people with respect knowing what he needed to do to get the job done. I'm going to miss Raymond because I consider him a friend.”

Vaughan told the board, as he chocked back tears, “You've brought this community such a long way.”

With his mother, Pearlie, by his side, Garner takes the oath of office. With them are town Commissioner Iris Williams and Mayor Bell.

Garner, too, had to choke back tears before Vaughan pinned the chief's badge on him and took the oath of office.

“I thank God for everything he's done for me,” Garner told the audience. “This board, I can't say enough. I want to see Garysburg grow. Chief Vaughan is like a second dad to me.”

Looking directly at Vaughan, Garner said, “Chief, man, I hate to see you go. This guy has taught me so much. He taught me to say 'what if,' meaning to think before you act. He trained me in a way to put me where I'm at right now.”