I worked as a full-time police officer for about 33 years and thoroughly enjoyed my career. Now, I’ve been retired for 18 years and am enjoying retirement just as much as I enjoyed my time on the job.
I’ve been asked to share my recipe for a successful retirement from public safety. Here are a few key ingredients.
1. Physical fitness
Maintaining a functional fitness regimen helped me not only survive my career but also enjoy my retirement. I’ve combined running, lifting, stretching, martial arts and defensive tactics throughout the years. My workouts allowed me to outlast criminals on the street and keep up with my grandchildren in retirement.
Over time, I’ve adjusted my workouts to accommodate my age and job-related injuries. For example, in martial arts, I now practice alone, slowly and without impact to avoid permanent injury.
Running with my dog keeps me enthusiastic, as she has enough energy for both of us.
2. Emotional support
I’ve been fortunate to have great physical backup on the street and emotional backup from my family, who have always been there for me. I nurture and cherish my family relationships and this has paid dividends.
3. Financial preparedness
No one can chase bad guys over fences forever, no matter how exciting it may be. It’s a good thing first responders retire earlier than most professions.
What allowed me to retire at 53 with maximum benefits was a healthy retirement fund, combined with Social Security at 65 and working two additional careers (part-time). One of those careers, as a police trainer, even earned me a modest third retirement.
4. Work after retirement
I view the work I’ve done in retirement as a critical part of achieving a successful transition. It’s like hitting a home run in baseball — you wouldn’t drop the bat immediately after making contact. My work in retirement has been the follow-through. My three careers have been:
- Full-time police officer
- Part-time teacher/trainer
- Writer
If you need to work in retirement for financial or emotional reasons, consider something fulfilling that also earns extra income. I know first responders who have become:
- Police, fire or EMS trainers
- Writers
- Security consultants
- Part-time first responders
- Background investigators
- Insurance investigators
- Full-time first responders for a different agency
- Police, fire or EMS chiefs
- Carpenters
- Landscapers
- Artisans and craftsmen
- Resort owners
- Restaurant owners
- Attorneys
- College professors
- Criminal justice coordinators
Early retirement allows you to start a new chapter, which has kept life exciting for me.
For those transitioning out of public safety, the shift from an active career to retirement can feel like a relief at first, but over time, it can lead to boredom or isolation. This video dives deeper into the challenges retirees may face and provides practical tips on how to stay connected, build a new sense of purpose and cultivate interests beyond your career.
5. Travel
As someone who loves to travel, I discovered that being a police trainer not only funded my travel, but it also allowed my wife to join me on many trips.
6. Nature
Both before and after retirement, I’ve found inner peace in nature — in the presence of rivers, lakes, oceans, forests, mountains, deserts and wildlife.
7. Prayer for trauma relief
For me, a short prayer is as life-sustaining as breathing.
I’ve used prayer to help process the traumatic calls I responded to — accidental, intentional or natural deaths. After the action ended, I would send up a prayer for the soul of the departed, whether they were loved or loathed.
To this day, when I pass a place that reminds me of, for example, the young man lying next to his motorcycle, to whom I administered CPR, I send up a prayer. These simple prayers have allowed me to make peace with the difficult memories that accompany our career.
8. Grandchildren
If you are or become blessed with grandchildren, enjoy them often.
9. Practice positivity
A career in public safety can make you negative if you let it — and that negativity can follow you into retirement. Practice the discipline of staying positive (I call it a discipline because it requires effort). I’ve found that this practice has allowed me to enjoy my career, my retirement and my life more fully.
10. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle
It’s important to relax but fight the temptation to become sedentary. A sedentary lifestyle will not only rob you of experiences, but it will also silently steal your mobility. “Move it or lose it!”
11. Alcohol
I was lucky. As the son of an alcoholic and a police officer, I noticed that alcohol seemed to ruin more lives than it enhanced.
I chose to live a life without alcohol-induced hangovers and bad decisions. In hindsight, it was one of my better choices.
12. Find joy
Everyone has something simple that brings them joy and makes them feel young again — whether it’s fishing, golfing, singing, playing an instrument, laughing, dancing or all of the above.
For me, diving off a diving board makes me feel 18 again every time. Find your joy and do it often!
13. Count the days
When I say “count the days,” I don’t mean counting down to retirement.
I counted the days I was able to enjoy a career that was not only challenging but also exhilarating and fulfilling. I spent 32 years, 11 months and 6 days working with my childhood heroes — police officers.
Now, I’ve been retired for 6,506 wonderful days.
In other words, make every day count!
Conclusion
I hope some of the ingredients I’ve shared can help you in some way. As always, stay safe, stay strong and stay positive.
And whenever possible, choose to be joyful!
