Cullman Police Chief Kenny Culpepper hates to lose decades’ worth of policing experience all in the same year. But he’s the first to agree that, for Officer Jack Springer and Cpt. Bobby Kelly, retirement has been well earned.

“Think about the book that could be written with all the war stories by Jack and Bobby,” Culpepper joked Friday at a retirement reception in the two officers’ honor, noting that Springer even helped train Culpepper himself when he first joined the force. “I told Bobby and Jack both: I’ll believe [they’ll retire] when I see it. Now that they’re retiring, does that mean I have to believe it?”

Springer leaves CPD with 50 years’ experience as both a career police officer and, following his first retirement, a part-time reserve officer. Kelly, meanwhile, is retiring after a 35-year career in law enforcement.

Springer spent the entirety of his policing career with CPD, and aside from brief early stints at Hanceville and the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, Kelly spent nearly all of his 35 years on the job with CPD as well.

Kelly may not be leaving his badge behind altogether, though. “I haven’t really decided, but I’d like to do the SRO thing: be a school resource officer,” he said Friday. “I might stick around for that, but I’m still not sure.”

When they left the police station Friday, where dozens of community leaders, family members, coworkers and residents celebrated their careers, both officers were loaded down with fresh hardware. In addition to commemorative plaques recognizing their years of service, Culpepper presented each officer with the retired-from-service weapon he carried while on the job.

“When you think about 85 years of experience,” said Culpepper, “It’s a lot to say goodbye to. All of us hate to think about Jack and Bobby leaving, but they’ve both earned it.”