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The Litchfield city council recognized the city's retiring chief of police during their meeting Thursday evening.

Once the meeting began, Mayor Steve Dougherty read a proclamation thanking Chief Lee Jarman for serving the department for 26 years. He will retire from service on March 29.

Jarman began serving in Litchfield in 1993 as a dispatcher. From there, he earned numerous promotions until taking over as acting chief in 2013. The following year, the interim title was removed and he became the chief full-time. Dougherty said while serving the department, Jarman oversaw a number of major incidents in Litchfield -- including the megabus crash of 2012 and an aircraft seizure in 2013 when a large amount of marijuana was confiscated at the airport.

Jarman emotionally thanked those in attendance, including many officers and former mayor Tom Jones. He said he appreciated the city council for always supporting him and thanked the mayor and City Administrator Tonya Flannery for their support as well.

The next Litchfield City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Apr. 4, at 6:30 p.m.