The head of the Lakeland Police Department is retiring next month.
Police Chief Larry Giddens announced Monday he will be retiring, effective Feb. 1.
Giddens has been with the police department for 34 years. In February 2014, he was named interim police chief. He was officially named police chief in March 2015.
“It has been an honor serving the great citizens of Lakeland but the day has come for me to hang up my gun belt,” Giddens said in a statement. “It was a life-long dream to serve as Lakeland’s chief of police and I certainly believe that when I officially walk out of the door, the department is in great shape to continue as one of the finest police departments in the country.”
City Manager Tony Delgado called the announcement bittersweet and said Giddens has been considering his retirement for weeks.
“I selfishly discussed options that would hopefully keep him as Lakeland’s Chief of Police,” Delgado said. “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.”
Delgado says the city will now evaluate the police department and review the succession plan.
“Chief Giddens has done a fantastic job transforming the department and we have a group of very talented and dedicated employees within the assistant chief ranks who will help us get through this transition period,” he said.
