2023-03-21 IV. D. Certificate of Retirement - Pickering tVItil;,E ,.,_ _
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Office of the Mayor
City of Okeechobee, Florida
WHEREAS, Mr. James Walter Pickering, began his law enforcement career in November of 2004
when he was appointed to the Okeechobee Police Auxiliary. After a few years, he realized this was the
career for him, and on March 6, 2006, he was hired by Chief Davis as a non-certified Officer and
sponsored by the City Police Department to attend the Indian River Community College Law
Enforcement Academy. On October 27, 2006, he earned his Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Certificate and was assigned to the Road Patrol; and
WHEREAS, only four months later Officer Pickering applied to fill the City's vacancy on the
Narcotics Unit of the Joint Drug Task Force. On February 19, 2007, his job title changed to Detective
Pickering. He represented the City Police Department extremely well during these six years. The
highlights of this time include attending the Drug Enforcement Administration Basic Course School;
was designated as a Special Agent for the Immigration and Customs Services as a member of the Blue
Lighting Task Force. He, together with the members of the Narcotics Unit were honored on December
6, 2012, with a Unit Citation Award issued by Sheriff Paul May for their success with a cocaine
trafficking and wiretap prosecution dubbed "Operation Cocaine Cowboy." Then on January 14, 2013,
he transferred from the Task Force to the Detective Unit of the Police Department;and
WHEREAS, education and training has been an important key to Detective Pickering's leadership
role, obtaining over 150 certificates of completion for attending seminars, conferences, training, and
continuing education courses. Furthermore, since July of 2018, he served as one of the Department's
Firearms Instructors, and then in March of 2022, began serving as an Instructor for the Department
and for Indian River State College Police Academy, instilling a dedicated work ethic in future recruits;
and
WHEREAS, during his tenure James was elected by his co-workers to represent their interests on the
Police Officers' Pension Plan Board of Trustees from June 1, 2019 through his retirement date; and
WHEREAS, James has served under the guidance of three City Police Chiefs, Dennis Davis, Robert
Peterson, and Donald Hagan, II, all of which described him as an asset to the Department because of
his dedication to the people of this City.
NOW, THEREFORE, this Certificate is presented this 21st day of March, 2023, to recognize our gratitude
for over 17 years of faithful service, upon his official retirement, March 31, 2023. James will always
be known for his willingness to care for the well-being of the citizens, but most especially for his
unequivocal love of the Christmas season, and all things Santa Claus.
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Mayor City Clerk