After providing more than 30 years of service in Charlotte County, Capt. Howard Hobgood of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has retired.

While working in law enforcement can often be a challenging career path, Hobgood invested many years, giving back to the county.

During his time with the sheriff’s office, he served as a deputy, investigator, lieutenant and captain of investigations.

Ultimately, he became a very familiar face in the law enforcement community and around the county.

“You get to meet a lot of people,” Hobgood said. “You pretty much get to know most of the people in the county. They get to know you.”

Hobgood should be commended for his dedication and the faithful service he provided over the years.

He initially began working with the sheriff’s office in Charlotte County in 1977 before taking a short hiatus, joining again under the leadership of Sheriff Thomas Jones.

Law enforcement officers have a responsibility to serve and protect, while often putting themselves in harm’s way. Hobgood’s extended service is an example of a selfless act for the greater good of the county.

In an interview with The Gazette, Hobgood said if he could offer a piece of advice to a young sheriff’s deputy, “I’d tell them that they are there to serve the people. They are there to serve the public. It’s not an ego trip. You’ve got to remember why you’re there. You’re not going to become rich. You’ve just got to realize it’s law enforcement and you’re there to serve the people.”

That’s exactly what he did during his time on the force. He set an example of leadership and the level of community dedication that others should take example of.

Thank you, Howard, for your service to Charlotte County. 

Italia Gregory is community editor of The Charlotte Gazette. Her email address is Italia.Gregory@TheCharlotteGazette.com.