If you’ve spent time in Cullman over the last 50 years, chances are you’ve met, talked to, or maybe even been pulled over by officer Jack Springer.

The Cullman City police officer recently celebrated 50 working years with the police department and was honored at a City Council meeting.

When thinking back on his experiences over the past half century, he can’t think of a negative point to share.

“It’s all been good —` the only bad things are the things that you don’t want to remember,” Springer said. “One thing that sticks out is knowing I’ve worked for four different police chiefs and I liked them all. When I started you didn’t go to the academy. We also didn’t have computers and the excess of paperwork like we do now. It was a different time then. But, I’ve definitely learned a lot over the years.”

Springer referred back to the four police chiefs he served under over the past half century— each of them had a different way of doing things within the police department. For Springer, he said he enjoyed working with each of them.

“I started under Bascom Miller, then Roy Wood was named chief,” Springer said. “Then we started using state forms for arrest reports. About 10 to 11 years ago, we went to the Spillman program- which is a computer-based way of keeping up with your records. It allows all information to go into a central thing. If you’ve ever been arrested, it was an easy way to access it all. I figured the time would come when it would all be computer-based, but I think it’s a good thing.”

Although officers may be perceived as intimidating because their role is to enforce the law and hold people accountable to it, Springer said he has always put one goal ahead of the rest as an officer of the law.

“The main thing is helping people. Most people think you’re just out there to punish people, but I couldn’t disagree more. We are here to protect people and serve the community,” Springer said. “We’re here to help more than anything. Something that has stood out to me over the years, one time in particular, me and several guys were out eating somewhere and this guy had told me ‘you arrested me.’ He went on to say how much it helped him in his life. Sometimes that’s the best thing that can happen because it helps them get back on track. We also had our meal paid for. That happens every now and then, and it’s always such a kind gesture. We appreciate more than you know.”

The half-century officer has also been married 52-years to his wife, Shirley Springer. They reside in Cullman and have two sons.

“Both of my boys are grown and I tell everyone I have a drug seller and officer for sons, (my oldest is actually a pharmacist),” Springer said. “My younger son is getting ready to retire from the police department in Birmingham. He’s been with the department for 20 years.”

Before working with the department, Springer spent more than three years in the Air Force. He was also in Turkey from 1963-64. He’s worked with his brothers in the Air Force and then in law enforcement for the majority of his life.

“That’s something about working with the police department; I’ll never let an officer down and I’ve never had an officer let me down,” Springer said. “To name a few of the officers I’ve been closest to — Jack Maddox, Herman Woodard, Jean Ray, Bill Mickle, probably 20 more, too,” he said. “We have the same thing here that you have everywhere, else just on a smaller scale. Our department is good or better than most and its ranked in the top for quality. If I had the choice to go back, I’d do it all again.”

When asked when Springer would retire, he simply replied, ‘it’s hard to say.’

“I’ve experienced several scares at work. In this line of work you just see horrible things that you don’t want to remember and the only people that truly understand are in the department,” Springer said. “You can go talk to a psychiatrist, but what you end up doing is talking to the people you work with because those are they people that you know, and you know that will understand. There is a whole lot of good things that you see and experience as an officer, but there are some tough situations too. Especially those that involve kids.”

While not certain, Springer said he may consider retiring in December.

There is something that Springer always wanted to be known for within the department and community.

“I just want people to know and think that I always tried to do the right thing no matter what,” Springer said.