"I think this was a milestone for me," Chief Hooper said. "The highlight of my career was when I made Chief in June of 1998."
"At that time my father was still alive; he was a 25 year veteran of the Gainesville Police Department and for him to see me make Chief, that was my career highlight and will always be."
Hooper admitted the Outstanding Chief of the Year award he received Tuesday night in Savannah from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police came as a 'total surprise'.
He said it was one of the best kept secrets with his own command staff, City Manager Bryan Shuler and his wife all knowing a month ahead of time and not breathing a word about it.
"I was very surprised and very humbled and very honored," the Chief said.
Hooper recalled it all started when he was a teenager in Gainesville, when he rode in a patrol car with his Dad.
"He taught me how to be a police officer," the Chief said.
The 29 year police veteran said he knew then he someday wanted to be police chief and continue a family tradition that goes back 55 years.
"He was always my role model, he was my best friend," Hooper said. "I used to come in and ride with my dad when I was 12, 14 years old."
"It showed me what I wanted to do for a career and I made the choice a long time ago about the path I would follow."
Hooper said when his father retired from the force in 1977; he began his career in 1978.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/8/86995