Emotional video of an Arkansas State Trooper's final radio call before retirement has captured the attention of thousands online.
Cpl. Chris Graddy has turned in his badge and hat after 22 years with Arkansas State Police. He spent his entire ASP career assigned to his native Boone County.
"It's been very rewarding. I've met a lot of people, made a lot of friends, helped a lot of people -- kind of the reason you get into law enforcement," Cpl. Graddy said.
As Graddy transmitted his final 10-7 (off-duty) call Wednesday, his daughter Kayla, an ASP dispatcher, was on the other end of the radio.
"It was hard to talk," Graddy said. "It took a few seconds to get it out."
Kayla signed on as a dispatcher in June 2018, working for the same troop as her dad.
"I just can't get over how blessed I was able to be the one to give his final 10-7 and goodbye from Arkansas State Police," she said. "It was an amazing feeling."
Kayla shared an emotional goodbye with her dad, thanking him for his service and saying that ASP won't be the same without him.
"There's a lot of people at State Police," Cpl. Graddy said. "It's not just the people on the road; the people who work inside -- they put forth a lot of hours. It takes a special person to answer that call and I've tried to do that at my very best for the last 23 years."
As he said goodbye on the radio Graddy told his colleagues to stay safe, ending the call with "God bless ya."
Though his duty as a state trooper has come to an end, Graddy will continue working in law enforcement as he becomes chief of the Harrison Police Department on Jan 1.
Arkansas State Police released two videos that are bound to tug on your heartstrings, as they did for the nearly 3,000 people that shared them.
After 22 years with the Arkansas State Police, Cpl. Chris Graddy signed off for the last time.
"It's been very rewarding. I've met a lot of people, made a lot of friends, helped a lot of people -- kind of the reason you get into law enforcement," Cpl. Graddy said.
After returning his equipment to State Police Headquarters in Little Rock this afternoon, his final visit included a number of goodbyes. But he says none of them more difficult or meaningful than one captured yesterday.
His daughter, police dispatcher Kayla Graddy, was on the other end of the line when he sent in his final 10/7 (off-duty call).
"I just can't get over how blessed I was able to be the one to give his final 10-7 and goodbye from ASP," she said. "It was an amazing feeling."
Kayla was able to read him an emotional goodbye, thanking him for his service and saying that ASP won't be the same without him.