Lakeland Police Chief Announces Retirement

LAKELAND, FL — After 34 years with the city police department, including the last four as chief, Lakeland Police Chief Larry Giddens announced his retirement Monday, ending more than three decades of law enforcement service to the community.

"I sincerely want to extend my gratitude for the opportunity to work as a police officer for this great city over the last 34 years," Giddens said. "It has indeed been my honor to serve our citizens, to work in concert with all the city employees delivering excellent customer service daily, and to work for you. I can guarantee you I gave it all I had every day, but the day has come to hang up my gun belt."

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Giddens said he couldn't imagine spending his career doing anything else.

"For me, being a cop is all I ever wanted to be and I have cherished every moment," he explained. "The honor to serve as the chief for the very best police department in the country certainly exceeded all my expectations."

He closed by thanking Lakeland residents and city officials for "allowing me to live my dream."

Lakeland City Manager Tony Delgado called the announcement bittersweet for the community of about 108,000.

"Larry is more than a fantastic public servant, chief of police and leader within our organization and community," said Delgado. "He is a great friend to me."

Giddens began his law enforcement career in 1984 as an auxiliary police 0fficer with the department.

He was hired full time the following year and drew various patrol assignments, including field training officer, honor guard and uniform crime scene technician.

In 1987 Giddens was selected as a SWAT member and served on the department’s Street Crimes Unit. He went on to become a K-9 Officer in 1989 with the Street Crimes Unit and Patrol Division.

Giddens was promoted to sergeant in 1993 and served as patrol sergeant. In 1994, he was assigned to the Street Crimes Unit of the Special Operations Section and served as sergeant for the Street Crimes Unit over the next seven years.

He was promoted to lieutenant in 2001 and became the officer in charge of Delta Squad in the Neighborhood Services Bureau. Giddens was later transferred to the Special Investigations Section as the 0fficer in charge. He went on to become the officer in charge of the Neighborhood Liaison Section. His unit conducted undercover operations, crime prevention and helped set up Neighborhood Watch programs.

Giddens was promoted to captain in December of 2009 and served as commanding officer of the Uniform Patrol Division. He remained in this position until October 2011, when he was promoted to assistant chief in charge of the Neighborhood Services Bureau. Giddens has served as chief since December of 2014.

In addition to his field experience, Giddens graduated from the FBI National Academy in December of 2005. He has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Polk Community College and a bachelor of arts degree in criminology from Saint Leo University. He is a Certified Public Manager through Florida State University and graduated from the Senior Management Institute for Police in July 2011.

Delgado said he tried to talk Giddens into staying longer.

“Larry has been pondering this decision for weeks and I selfishly discussed options that would hopefully keep him as Lakeland’s chief of police," Delgado shared. "However, I understand that there are opportunities in life that present themselves and even though we are going to miss him as our dedicated chief of police, we wish him well as he starts a new chapter outside of the organization he grew up in.”

Photo courtesy Lakeland Police Department