Employee of the Year in Landis sets standard for son
Published 12:10 am Wednesday, November 27, 2024
- Buddy Porter Sr., left, and his son, Buddy Porter Jr. are both Landis polic officers. Porter Sr. received the employee of the year award from the town at the annual Christmas party last week. Porter Sr. has been an officer in some capacity for 54 years, 24 of them in Landis. Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci
LANDIS — At the town’s annual Christmas party, local police sargeant Buddy Porter Sr. got a tremendous surprise.
He was awarded the Employee of the Year from the town, over all departments, said Landis Police Chief Matthew Geegen.
Porter said he was surprised, and pleased, but said he is just doing his job.
He has been with the department for 24 of his 54 years of police work. He started in Spencer in 1973, worked with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office for 28 years, spent five years with the state fugitive office, and came to Landis at the end of his career.
His son, Buddy Porter Jr., has followed in his father’s footsteps, donning the Landis police uniform as well. He has served with the department for 15 years.
“I always wanted to follow my dad,” said Porter Jr. “I’m just very proud of him.”
Porter Sr. has raised six children, three boys of his own and three stepchildren — a stepson and two stepdaughters. He is proud of each of them, including the one who has followed in his footsteps, but notes he is also proud of his work in his community, which has become like family.
“It’s always been about serving the people of the community,” he said. The job is what he always wanted to do. “Wherever they call and tell me to be, I go.”
At 72, Porter is still committed to the work, but says he appreciates that in Landis, “there is very little crime. We have great people in the community.” He also loves working with children, as evidenced by his participation in the annual Landis Shop with a Cop last weekend. Several of the participating students know him, and were more than happy to see him.
“I really hate it when we pull up somewhere and I hear parents tell their children that if they don’t behave, they will have me arrest them,” Porter Sr. said. “We work to show kids that we are people they can trust, not people they should be afraid of. Don’t use us as a way to scare them.”
Porter Sr. and Porter Jr. do get to work patrol together from time to time, and both say they rely on the other for support when needed.
“He’s leaving some big shoes for me to fill, though,” laughed Porter Jr.
“I can’t think of anyone more deserving,” said Geegen.
