By RAY QUIROGA
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
rayq@portisabelsouthpadre.com
Gloria Sandoval, a 30-year veteran dispatcher for the South Padre Island Police Department, is shown during her retirement party. (Staff photos by Ray Quiroga)
Prior to punching out this past Friday evening, Gloria Sandoval made sure everything in her department was ready to go for Monday morning. Her workspace was clean, her paperwork was in order. But unlike so many Fridays past, there was something different this evening.
After 30 years as a South Padre Island emergency dispatcher, Gloria Sandoval would not be coming back to work on Monday.
“I really hate to see her go, but I know it has to happen. Thirty years of service, she’s done her time and paid her dues,” said SPIPD Assistant Police Chief Javier Garza. Garza has a special place in his heart for Sandoval. It was Sandoval, after all, who took Garza under her wing and trained the then rookie dispatcher some 27 years ago.
Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the Jan. 2 edition of the Port Isabel-South Padre Press, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
1 comment
Wow the years pass, I was the first dispatcher hired for the Island many years ago. I worked with Gloria both at Port Isabel PD and on South Padre Island PD. Every chance I went back to the Island I stop by and see Gloria and Mary Austin. Gloria I will miss stopping by to see you but enjoy your retirement, you deserve it.