The City of Summerville honored retiring Police Officer Ricky VanPelt this week, celebrating his decades of service to the community. VanPelt, a fixture in the Summerville Police Department, officially retired this week, marking the end of a distinguished full-time career that began in 1985. Although VanPelt briefly served with other law enforcement agencies throughout his career, he consistently returned to the Summerville Police Department, finding his true home and dedicating the majority of his professional life to the city. “Officer VanPelt’s knowledge and experience were deeply valued,” a city statement read. “His dedication to the City of Summerville was easily seen by those working around him.” However, Summerville residents haven’t seen the last of Officer VanPelt. He will continue to serve the community on a part-time basis, donning the uniform when needed and providing his expertise to the department. The City of Summerville extends its heartfelt congratulations to Officer VanPelt on his retirement and anticipates his continued contribution to the department.