He was the face and voice of LakelandPD for 15 years, a constant presence in the local media for many years as he told the public about tragedy after tragedy with a calm, reassuring demeanor. This stellar career and years of dedicated service to the Lakeland community ended Friday when our Public Information Officer Jack Gillen retired.
Jack was more than our PIO, though that was his official job title. He was quick to give information to the public via the local press and media outlets, telling the story of crime and its impact on crime victims with in a laid back manner that people loved.
You was impossible to go to lunch anywhere in Lakeland and not get stopped by someone who recognized Jack or wanted to share a thought with him. We often joked that Jack was more recognized than the Chief of Police.
What the public did not get to see, but we did at the police station, was Jack's caring, compassionate concerns for the members of LakelandPD. His work behind the scenes to help someone with personal problems or to just be there to listen as officers vented about the tragedies they saw everyday was his greatest gift to our department. He helped make sure our folks were always okay at the end of the day.
Jack brought a wealth of experience to our organization from his years as a local police officer to his experience with the Secret Service guarding the President. Jack understood cops, his rough and tough Irish behavior hiding the teddy bear of a man inside.
I often teased Jack about the one thing he did not bring to the job - computer skills. We joked about how a PIO in today's electronic, immediate news world could do so well without really mastering computers. His beaming smile carried him through though, and we were always glad to help him in this area. He did eventually learn how to use e-mail and attach photos - after his grandchildren, the pride and joy of his life, came into this world.
We will miss Jack as he enters the next chapter of his life to teach college students as an adjunct instructor. Gone from LakelandPD are his wild fishing stories - tales of the big one that got away, photos of the ones he did land in the boat, and memories of good times with great friends.
Jack didn't teach us much about computers, but leaves behind a legacy at LakelandPD that we will forever cherish. He worked diligently to build a museum LPD history in our community room and worked equally as hard to make sure our members were taken care of after significant tragedies.
We will hire another PIO in the near future, but we will never find another man like Jack Gillen.
Take care friend...
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
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