Sergeant Brent Menzies announced his retirement from the Morden Police Service at the beginning of May. He started with the department in 1988.

A crew of five officers, or less, handled the growing of town of Morden in the late '80's, now there's 15 officers on the force.

Brad Neduzak, current Morden police chief, and Brent Menzies were two of those officers.

"We started three years apart," said Neduzak.

"Over the years, we've seen a lot of changes and been through a lot. When somebody like that retires, a part leaves along with [them]."

In retirement, Menzies plans to stay relatively busy helping his wife with her business and crafting woodworking projects for his kids.

"I want to spend more time with our kids and grandson, and thought now would be a good time," he said.

Since 1988, Menzies has seen a lot of improvements in the department, including a wage hike that started in the late '90's.

"Guys didn't stay that long [when I started] because of the wages, that's improved dramatically, and now guys are staying for a long period of time and making Morden a home," Menzies said.

Making Morden a home is one of the primary strategies, Neduzak insists his officers use as they police the city. They have to be part of the community.

"Everybody knows you, you know everybody in the community. It makes it a whole lot easier," said Menzies.

"You treat everybody fairly, and I think people start to know you and then they begin to trust you. That's when it's easier to do your job, when the community knows you and they trust you, and they're willing to help you out or they know what kind of a character you are."

Sgt. Brent Menzies will officially retire from the Morden Police Service Friday, June 2, 2017.''

photo courtesy of Morden Police Service