Lt. Steve Geohagan says he has three very good reasons to turn in his badge and holster his gun after 21 years with the Covington County Sheriff’s Department: his four young grandchildren.

“There are three things I want to do,” Geohagan said Thursday at a retirement party held in his honor. “I want to teach those babies how to ride horses, how to fish and how to swim, and we’ve already started with the horses.”

Geohagan was surrounded by three of his grandchildren, Sophie, Marlee Kate and Mitt, as well as plenty of other family and friends at Thursday’s party, where Sheriff Dennis Meeks presented him with a plaque and shadow box, as well as his service weapon and a lifetime pistol permit. Geohagan’s wife, Rhonda, said she is proud of her husband’s career, but is looking forward to having him home more often.

“I’m just looking forward to him being with us,” she said. “For 30 years, you pray and you just turn it over to God, but you still worry, so it’s good to not have to do that anymore.”

Geohagan finishes his career in law enforcement today, bringing to an end a 30-year stint that began with Florala Police Department, has included several years as CCSO chief deputy, and ends with years spent as a school resource officer and D.A.R.E. instructor.

Meeks said Geohagan was chief deputy when he began his own career, adding he will be impossible to replace.

“He’s going to be missed for sure,” Meeks said. “Steve is one of those guys that’s real calm and laid back. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him upset.”

Meeks said Geohagan’s example has helped him learn how to communicate with people in the midst of difficult circumstances.

“He’s so God with people,” he said. “That’s how I learned how to deal with people, which is important in this job.”

Geohagan himself said he is looking forward to spending time with his family, but won’t be completely out of touch with his second family in law enforcement.

“We won’t be completely out of it,” he said. “I’m still going to work with the sheriff’s office auxiliary and the Florala auxiliary. But I am looking forward to not having to be at a certain place at a certain time.”

Geohagan said he has far too many stories from his years of duty to narrow down any one that stands out, but added he knows exactly what he will miss most about the job.

“I’ll miss being around my fellow officers that I’ve worked with for so long,” he said. “But, I’ll be around.”