Captain Neal Glassman.
By: Jen Russon
As his days wind down serving Tamarac, Captain Neal Glassman said it saddens him to be leaving his post after six and a half years. The veteran police officer, whose public service career spans three decades, officially retires on July 31.
Glassman, 58, said the decision was made not so much by him, but by retirement criteria in Florida’s DROP Retirement Plan, of which he is a member. Glassman said if he gets his way, his departure will be with little fanfare.
“I found out about a secret retirement party, so it’s canceled now,” he said jokingly. “Those who know me, know I don’t want to make a big deal out of this.”
The captain explained it’s been bittersweet these past few months, attending city events and commission meetings, filling people in on his upcoming retirement.
He said the last commission meeting included a proclamation about his service. At another event – a luncheon hosted by the Tamarac Historical Society to celebrate its 10th year – a round of still more goodbyes touched him.
Glassman and his wife have no specific plans following his official retirement; they intend just to lay low, relax, and enjoy their home in Coconut Creek. Last March, they visited Israel where Glassman has family, and may soon return. The couple also has a 29-year old son, living in Tampa, who works for Hillsboro County as a police officer.
The retiring BSO captain was formerly the executive, officer in Deerfield Beach, and has over 27 years of law enforcement experience. Glassman holds a bachelor of arts in criminal justice from Long Island University, where his career began in 1985, with the New York City Housing Police.
A formal serviceman on the U.S. Naval Reserve, he served six years as a cryptologic technician until he was honorably discharged in 1986. Three years later he joined the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, working steadily up the ranks until becoming captain at the age of 50.
He has exceedingly fond memories of serving Tamarac and that it made him happy to chip away at the myth law enforcement can be standoffish. As far as he is concerned, in his capacity as an officer interacting with residents, it was never an “us against them” mentality.
“It’s going to sound cliché, but I really loved being out there with everybody. I loved going to city meetings and all the events – the Taste of Tamarac, the Halloween Hayride, the Turkey Trot. I will miss it all.”
According to the city, Glassman’s replacement appointment is pending.