Greenfield Police Department Detective Jerami Summers gives instructions during a recent training exercise. Summers will retire after his last day working on May 25, completing 22 years of service with the Greenfield Police Department.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — After 22 years of community service with the Greenfield Police Department, Det. Jerami Summers said it’s time to move on. He’ll officially step down at the end of May.
Summers, 44, is a true Jack of all trades who was able to master many skills, including becoming a sharp shooter and one of the department’s firearms instructors during his time on the force. He started his career with the department over two decades ago and worked his way through the ranks doing a little bit of everything to become one of the top detectives in the field, officials with the department said.
While Summers says he’ll miss some aspects of the job, the decision to leave and try something new wasn’t as difficult as some may think.
“I think the decision to retire from this line of work comes differently for everyone,” Summers said. “But, once you hit that spot, that age, I think you realize you’re ready.”
While Summers will no longer be a detective, he’ll keep his hand in the field of law enforcement. He’s moving on to work for a company called Cybercheck. The business provides law enforcement and government agencies with real-time criminal intelligence from the surface and dark web.
Working for the Canadian-based company will give Summers the opportunity to represent the United States office, based in Fort Wayne, while working from his home in Hancock County.
“The thing I’m going to enjoy about it is I’ll still be helping law enforcement,” Summers said. “I’ll still be out there hunting bad guys, just in a different aspect of law enforcement.”
Summers first delved into law enforcement decades ago following in the footsteps of his grandfather who was a retired Indiana State Police trooper.
“I just saw the way he handled himself, the integrity level that he had with the discipline that he had, and I admired that,” Summers said.
The outgoing detective joked when he thought back to the day when he pondered either being an accountant or going into law enforcement and made the final decision to become a police officer.
“I probably lost out on a lot of money there,” he said with a laugh.
Summers’ decision to go into law enforcement led him to becoming a great asset to the GPD over the last 22 years, chief Brian Hartman said.
In addition to being a firearms instructor, a member of the SWAT team for over 15 years, an investigator and a general instructor, he’s also been a K9 handler.
“Losing an officer with 22 years in is a great loss,” Hartman said. “It’s a tremendous loss of knowledge and experience taking into account all of his specialties.”
While Hartman will find a way to replace Summers’ spot in the department, it will take a long time to be able to replace the skill Summers has in so many specialties. Plus, Summers is just a good guy to have around the department, Hartman said.
“Jerami is always a friendly face to see with a positive attitude to go along with it, and that will be missed as well,” Hartman said.
Summers, his co-workers said, is the kind of police officer who is always willing to help out anyone who needs it.
“I wish he wasn’t retiring, as I will miss him, although I understand he is ready and has earned this retirement,” Hartman said.
Public information officer and chief deputy Chuck McMichael agreed with his chief on the importance of losing an officer like Summers who has done everything and been a big contributor for over two decades.
“Jerami has always spent his own time and money, on top of what the department provides, to continue his training and learn new skills,” McMichael said.
As a firearms instructor, Summers shares what he learns from the classes that are taught by some of the best tactical minds in the country.
“Firearms training is constantly evolving, and Jerami always brings something new to the table,” McMichael said. “We are going to miss his leadership and friendship and we wish him the best in the next chapter of his life.”
Summers noted while he’s ready to move forward, he’s thankful for being able to develop deep and lasting friendships with his fellow officers, particularly the ones on the SWAT team throughout the years. He’s certain those relationships will continue long after his last day with the GPD.
“I’m the type of person who doesn’t let law enforcement run his life,” Summers said. “So, the friendships I developed were more on a personal level than a law enforcement level, that way they will still continue.”
Summers last day is just around the corner. He’s set to retire Wednesday, May 25, just a few weeks after officially completely 22 years with the department which happens Tuesday, May 3. While his original plans called for him to retire at the being of May, duty calls, and he’ll put in a few more weeks before officially stepping down in a little more than three weeks.
