Today, we had an amazing event at the Milo-Grogan Community Center, marking a special moment for Officer David Jones. He will retire on July 6 after nearly 31 years of dedicated service with the Columbus Division of Police, and this was his last Starfish event. It was truly heartwarming.
Officer Jones thought he was just attending a small event with his partner, K-9 Ayko, at his chosen community center. But we surprised him with friends and fellow officers! Officers like Sergeant Redding and Officer Carter joined to share their K-9 knowledge with the children, and Officer Carter’s dog, Odja, wowed everyone with his kangaroo-like hops.
The fun continued as Officer Jones and Ayko demonstrated Ayko's incredible skills by finding a hidden cell phone in the playground, showing how these skills are used in real-life scenarios.
In honor of his incredible contributions, we presented Officer Jones with the Starfish Make a Difference Award. His career is marked by community engagement, bravery, and an unwavering commitment to service. Notably, Officer Jones was a pioneer of the Books & Badges program, and on his 28th anniversary with CPD, he heroically stopped a rape in progress.
A touching moment came at the end of the program when a young girl told Officer Jones she wants to be a police officer when she grows up—a beautiful testament to his inspiring influence.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Officer Jones, the officers who supported him, the engaged children, the dedicated staff of Milo-Grogan and Douglas Community Centers, and our sponsor, Byers Auto Group, for providing lunch for everyone. Today was a wonderful tribute to Officer Jones's remarkable career.
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