Meridian Police Department Patrol Operations Capt. Wade Johnson presents the Golden Flashlight Lifetime Achievement Award to outgoing Assistant Chief Jeff Lewis during Lewis's retirement ceremony Thursday. Lewis retired after almost 31 years on the force. The award was a light-hearted joke. Brian Livingston / The Meridian Star

    The ceremony in which family, friends and colleagues, attended Thursday at the Meridian Police Department to wish Jeff Lewis best wishes on his retirement resembled more of a Dean Martin Roast.

    One after another officers Lewis who had served with him during his almost 31 years on the force stepped up to the podium to give a watered down version of their most cherished memories as they served and protected the citizens of Meridian. Many times, as pointed out by former Assistant Chief Tommy Miller, the stories had to be toned down because police work is often a little rough around the edges.

    But all the stories had an underlying, heart felt message: Lewis will be missed.

    “It means a lot to me to have this many people show up for this,” Lewis said, scanning the crowd inside the Meridian Municipal Court. “I’ve worked with so many good people. I’ve seen the good and the bad and fortunately, the good outweighed the bad. The city administration has always been good to me so I leave a very thankful man and satisfied that I did the best job I possibly could.”

    During his career, Lewis has held virtually every post and worked in every division of the MPD. His friends spanned the patrol, investigative, narcotics and administrative branches of the department.

    “We are a family here,” said MPD Chief Lee Shelbourn. “We are part of the Thin Blue Line that protects the citizens of any community, town, or city. Jeff helped me when I first came here two years ago and I was the most unpopular person around. He helped me through some tough times.”

    Miller pointed out his relationship with Lewis outlasted Miller’s first marriage.

    “We go way back,” Miller said. “He was a great partner. He was the bad cop and I played the good cop. He took a lot of heat for me. I love him.”

    Chuck Fowler, like many of the policemen who took the podium, credited Lewis for saving his life on more than one occasion.

    “When I think of all the times when something could’ve gone wrong, Jeff was there to make it right,” Fowler said.

    Lewis’s replacement will be found through the application process. There was no timetable as to when a new assistant chief would be interviewed.

    Lewis said he would be working, as he has for many years, security for Mr. Discount Pharmacies in Meridian.