05/28/2026
The below text is verbatim to the letter delivered by Officer Aaron Harlow announcing his retirement. With the consent of the administration and Officer Harlow the letter is being shared with the public . Officer Harlowโs last day is quickly approaching but this letter is a testament to what a career here at HHPD looks like from his point of viewโฆ given his sense of humor it also happens to be one of the few PG documents heโs ever typed on his own time.
Dear Chief Lightner,
After my appointment on April 1st with Ohio Police and Fire, I have made the decision to retire on June 1st, with 29.78 years of service.
This is a bittersweet moment for me, as this career is all I have known. In 1994, I became a Huber Heights Police Explorer with the help of Mark Bruns. Those years as an Explorer molded me and would lead me down a path that took me away from HHPD and ultimately, led me back. In 1997, I earned a position as a Cadet with Centerville Police. I worked my way up to a sworn position and was promoted to Police Officer in 1999. The Ohio State Patrol Academy was instrumental in shaping the officer I became. Graduating from Basic Class 98, our class was one of the last classes in the 1990s. I continued with Centerville PD until 2001, knowing my ultimate goal was to come back to HHPD. That opportunity presented itself in late 2000. I tested with hundreds of hopefuls and was hired in March 2001.
Working for HHPD was a dream come true. The crime fighting, the car chases, the bar cars, and the camaraderie was everything I had hoped for. I made lifelong friends almost instantly.
I never looked back after leaving Centerville PD and not once did I regret it. HHPD offered me opportunities any officer would be hard pressed to find elsewhere in a single department. My first specialty position was a โCertified Car seat Installer.โ Itโs amazing to think that was necessary back in the day, but just look at society. During the same time, I joined bike patrol. That was enjoyable, especially on midnights, but I had my heart focused on something else. My dream position was serving as a K-9 officer. I achieved that in 2003 with K-9 Sammy. That position, without a doubt, was the best position I ever held. K-9 Sammy became a star, county wide, as his drug detection was unbelievable. There was nothing I loved more than assisting cops across the Miami Valley with K-9 calls. Whether it was searching for drugs, hunting a bad guy in the woods, or searching a building for a burglar, it was all a thrill to be the point man with that dog. Not a day goes by that I donโt think of Sammy. Following Sammyโs retirement, I felt a calling to do more. I tried out for the Regional Emergency Response Team twice and was accepted in 2016. I spent nine years with the team and loved every minute of it. Iโve never worked with a tighter group of men. I doubt those who have never worked in environments like that could understand. The sweat, the blood, the laughter, the gas exposures; all of it was a thrill. I will cherish those memories.
My career with HHPD has had its highs and lows. I definitely earned my fair share of paper over the years. I banged up a few cars. I let my mouth run occasionally. But, I feel like I served well. I earned a Purple Heart in 2002 for sustaining a knee injury after nearly being drown following a pursuit with a stolen car. The same year I earned a Citation of Bravery for not shooting an emotionally disturbed 14-year-old armed with a hatchet. In 2010, I was awarded the Medal of Valor for saving Crystal Buford, a bedridden paraplegic from a house fire. Many said it was heroic, the same number of people said it was stupid. I feel it falls somewhere in the middle. When Sammy retired, we were awarded the Distinguished Service Award in 2014. One of my proudest moments was reviving a non-breathing toddler, for that I was awarded a Life Saving Commendation in 2017. After all that, I will probably be remembered most for getting the Bearcat stuck in three feet of mud during an active SWAT call in Fairborn. Even the suspect armed with a rifle was confused by it.
Surviving officer involved shootings in 2014 and 2016, showed me how serious this profession is. By Godโs grace, Iโm still here. I remember in the Academy they told us, โMost of you will never fire your gun on duty.โ I was forced to twice. Those extreme violent moments will never leave me. A nearly 30-year career leaves you with lots of stories, lots of laughs, lots of cries, and more head shaking than anyone could imagine. I wouldnโt trade it for anything.
I want to thank you, all the Chiefs I have worked for through the years, the Command Staff, and all the men and women I have worked with on the ground for an amazing career. Be safe.
Officer Aaron D. Harlow #72
