After 43 years in law enforcement, 30 of them with the Conway Police Department, Tim Chapman will take a long, enjoyable vacation by train to Boston, Mass., then Maine and back.
After his trip and some rest, he will return to the Conway Police Department on a part-time basis.
At his retirement meeting on Thursday, several current and past officers who worked with Chapman said they saw him almost as a brother and a great role model.
Chapman told the group that there were three things he truly believed in.
The first is Jesus Christ his Lord and Saviour.
Second, his family: “I love my family. I will fight anyone for my family.
Third, being a policeman: “I love being a policeman.”
He smiled saying he thought there was a special place in heaven for police officers.
Chapman also bragged about his wife saying he had worked through ten hurricanes in his police years and each time she had to take care of their family on her own. It was also not unusual for her to be without him on holidays, birthdays and other special occasions.
Conway Police Chief Dale Long presented Chapman with a ghost box filled with memorabilia from his time at the department, including badges, handcuffs, patches, a flag, a robe band for a hat, pins and more.
Long said Chapman spent many years cleaning and refinishing floors during his off hours, a business that other officers have helped over the years.
He described Chapman as easy-going and said, “Nothing ever wakes him up.”
Long said the outgoing lieutenant brings his best day, every day.
“Everyone here learned something from him,” he said.
Chapman is the police employee, who gathered things and personnel to get to the Shepherd’s Table, and always worked at the intersection of Twelfth Avenue and Main Street during the Christmas parade.
Of Chapman, he said, “He leaves big shoes to fill.”
