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Suffolk City Council said farewell to a city mainstay during their Wednesday, Aug. 21 council meeting.

Retired Suffolk Police Department Officer Junius H. Jackson III was given heartfelt goodbyes and gratitude for his 28 years of service as a Building Safety Officer for Suffolk City Hall and 45 years and eight months as an SPD Officer overall. The day before, Jackson received a Resolution of Appreciation from Planning Commission Chairman Arthur Singleton during the Tuesday, Aug. 20, Planning Commission meeting.

“Whereas Junius H. Jackson has served and protected and issued order on behalf of the Suffolk Planning Commission for 28 years and whereas while serving as presiding safety officer, he has been dedicated to the betterment of the city and [actively] assured the Planning Commission to carry out their duties in a safe and orderly manner,” Singleton read to Jackson during the meeting. 

While providing closing comments during their council meeting, council members expressed their appreciation to Jackson for his service, with Council Member John Rector congratulating him on his “well-deserved” retirement.

“I know that in the 16 years that I spent on the Planning Commission, you were there protecting us, looking out for us, making sure that nobody went beyond the barriers to my left and to my right without getting your undivided attention,” Rector said humorously. “And I want to thank you for your service to this City and I wish you nothing but the best in your retirement.”

Council Member LeOtis Williams also shared his gratitude for Jackson.

“You’re going to be missed… You’re going to be missed,” Williams said. “You’ve been here for council looking out for us, making sure that we get to our vehicles safe, making sure that we get to the celebrations safe. You just really been there for us and I just want everybody to know how much you mean to me, how much you mean to council and I wish you the best. So, thank you for your service.”

Mayor Michael D. Duman also gave remarks on Jackson’s work. 

“I’ve been at this for 14 years and, one of my favorite sayings is ‘There’s only one thing you can count on nowadays and that’s you can’t count on anything,’ but there’s one thing you could count on and that’s that man right there,” Duman said. “I’d go anywhere with him anytime, and know whatever his mission was, it was going to be accomplished.”

At the end of the meeting, Jackson shared his thoughts as he wrapped up his service.

“It feels good,” Jackson said. “I have a good feeling that I have served my City Council for 28 years without incident. It was good pride and joy to serve them and I thank them for entrusting me to be with them on council retreats, parades and during city council meetings. It’s a privilege and an honor to have distinguished council members to think good of you and give comments and say that they felt good with me being in their presence, and that’s something I can take with me for the rest of my life. And I really appreciate that.”

As for what’s next for Jackson in his new chapter?

“I am looking for a journey to move on, [to] continue to serve the citizens of Suffolk and City Hall,” Jackson says. “However, I told everyone they would see me again in another capacity. So they will see me again.” 

Jackson continued. 

“With that being said, I would hope that the citizens when they see me – keep me in mind, keep me in prayer – that I am here always. And I’ll be entrusted to the City of Suffolk for the duration of my life and I want God to continue to bless our city and our Commonwealth of Virginia,” he ended.

Council Member Shelley Butler-Barlow was unable to attend the meeting and was excused.