After 31 years of service, Statesboro Police Commander John R. Holloway will retire, effective Oct. 1.
    Surrounded by colleagues, friends and family Thursday, Holloway was admittedly a bit emotional as he listened to others reminisce about old times and share humorous stories. A reception at the Jones-Love Community Building at Louetta Moore Park saw a packed house as fellow law enforcement officers, friends, judges, district attorney officials and others gathered to wish Holloway well.
    One by one, people who worked with the gentle giant of a police officer spoke about their feelings.
    “J.R. Holloway is honest, full or integrity and a very ethical individual,” said former Statesboro city manager Carter Crawford. To the law enforcement officers in the room, he said “If you follow this man, you cannot go wrong.”
    Statesboro City Councilman Gary Lewis shook Holloway’s hand and said “All the citizens of Statesboro, and all of law enforcement, we have a heart for you, and we love you.”
    June DiPolito, executive director of Pineland Services, which serves people with special needs, told him: "We know we could always call on you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” Calling Holloway a “leader in his field,” she praised him for support an awareness as a policeman of crisis prevention and the needs of mentally and emotionally challenged citizens.
    Statesboro City Manager Frank Parker said Holloway is a long time family friend and that he always considered him “not just a commander, but commander in chief. We’ll miss you.”
    Holloway stood in front of the crowd, an humble expression on his face as everyone praised him. Bulloch County Sheriff Lynn Anderson lightened the tone when he joked that Holloway was “the only man I ever knew who could eat a whole school of fried fish,” but then became serious.
    “I know I’m going to miss him, but I know where he lives,” he said. “Buddy, I love you like a brother.”
    Colleagues and friends not only love Holloway for his friendly, compassionate personality, but they respect him for being an honest officer with an impressive record.
    A scrapbook on a table at the reception displayed several commendations and awards, but one stood out: a letter of commendation from former Statesboro police chief Merle Clark, thanking Holloway for playing a major role in capturing the notorious I-75 stalker, Gary Owen Porter in 1984.
    Porter had committed a robbery and rape in Statesboro, and while detectives were working the scene, Holloway spotted a suspicious man who refused to look at him as he drove down U.S. 80 West.
    Holloway stopped the man, who turned out to be Porter, and while Porter fled, Holloway had his car and a purse containing jewelry and other evidence from the scene. When Porter was captured in Alabama, Holloway’s keen sense of policing helped convict him of the crimes committed in Statesboro.
    Holloway was promoted to detective within five years after his being hired as a patrol officer in 1980. The following year he was promoted to detective sergeant. Two years later, lieutenant of the uniform division.
    Twelve years later, Holloway was made lieutenant commander of the detective division, and little more than a year afterward was named detective captain. In 2002, he was promoted to major over the uniform division, a role he kept until the promotion last year to Commander.
    The promotion is of historical significance, since Holloway is Statesboro’s first black police leader, but the former major is humble about the issue.
    “I enjoy being a black man, a black policeman, but I have the same morals, same spirituality as the white officers,” he said shortly after his promotion. 
    Race has never been an issue with him personally or professionally, he said, but he does recognize the significance of being Statesboro’s first black police leader.
    “I’m proud that God saw fit for me to be first in that position,” he said. “J. R. Holloway will be a name in history.”
    After hearing others speak about him Thursday, Holloway’s humble nature was evident.
    “When you’re full like this (emotionally), it has a tendency to affect your speech,” he said. “It warms my heart greatly. My eyes are a little red and watery. I love all of you and appreciate you supporting me.”
    But, he said he does not take credit for a job well done.
    “I give all the glory to God,” he said. “If you don’t have … God in your heart, there’s no way you can carry out this job.”
    He said he is satisfied with his career, and “I don’t know of a man or woman I need to go back and apologize to” for anything. And, “I can confirm the old cliché that is you do what you love, you won’t work a day in your life.”
    When someone asked what he planned to do in his retirement, Holloway said “I don’t know. I’ve never been retired before. Ask me again in a month or two.”
   
    Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.