On Monday night, the City Commission recognized Sergeant Chalen Godwin who retired after 23 years with the force.

His retirement resolution reads as follows: 

Sergeant Chalen Godwin has dedicated his career to the safety and protection of our community, serving well and faithfully as a Detective of the DeLand Police Department; and 

WHEREAS, Sergeant Chalen Godwin, after twenty-three years of service to this community, will retire as a sworn Police Detective; and

WHEREAS,  Sergeant  Chalen  Godwin  was  hired  as  a  Police  Officer  by  the  City  of  DeLand  on August 17, 1999 and assigned to the Patrol Division. He was a Field Training Officer from 2013 through 2019. He was promoted to a Corporal with the Patrol Division in 2019 and then to a Sergeant within the Special Operations  Division  in  2021.  Sergeant  Godwin  became  a  K-9  handler  to  Lancelot  in  September 2017.  During  his  twenty-three  years  of  service  Sgt.  Godwin  received  numerous  letters  of  appreciation from command staff, DeLand residents and DeLand businesses; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Chalen Godwin’s dedication and commitment to the City of DeLand and to the DeLand Police Department has earned the respect, admiration, and high regard of his superiors, fellow officers, and the citizens of this community; and

NOW  THEREFORE,  BE  IT  RESOLVED  BY  THE  CITY  COMMISSION  OF  DELAND, FLORIDA:

Section 1. That  the  City  Commission  of  the  City  of  DeLand  does  hereby  honor  Sergeant Chalen  Godwin  for  his  twenty-three  years  of  service  to  the  City  of  DeLand  and  the  DeLand  Police Department  for  the  duty,  honor,  courage,  integrity,  caring,  respect,  and  loyalty  he  has  devoted  to  the community.

Section 2. This  resolution  shall  be  spread  upon  the  minutes  of  the  City  Commission  of  the City  of  DeLand  as  part  of  the  permanent  memento  of  the  City’s  thanks  and  appreciation  to  Sergeant Godwin.