Watch: Retiring Clearwater Cop Recognized on U.S. House Floor

CLEARWATER, FL — As Clearwater Police Officer Jonathan Walser prepares to bid life on the beat farewell, his years of service to the city and America were put in the national spotlight by U.S. Rep. David Jolly.

Jolly, a Republican from Belleair Bluffs, recognized Walser’s many years of service during a speech given on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday, Sept. 21. Walser is retiring after more than 20 years on the Clearwater force. He’s also served as the president of the local Fraternal Order of Police chapter for 12 years.

Walser “is always involved in activities related to doing for others at Thanksgiving and Christmas,” police department spokesman Rob Shaw said.

Jolly noted that giving spirit in his address about Walser, who also served as a Marine for six years and worked with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Clearwater department in the 1990s. In Clearwater, Walser served as a field training officer, member of the honor guard team, on the motorcycle unit and as a burglary unit detective.

He returned to the motorcycle unit in 2015, Jolly said, and has worked hard to use his motorcycle as an outreach tool with local youth. Walser is “highly respected,” Jolly said.

When asked by Jolly for a comment about Walser, Chief Daniel Slaughter had this to say: “(He) proves you don’t need to be a supervisor to be a remarkable leader. I have never met a person more dedicated to the officers, their families and the entire community.”

Walser’s retirement date has not been set, Shaw said.

Watch Jolly’s full speech below:

Photos courtesy of the Clearwater Police Department