Diaz Celebrates Three Decades in Law Enforcement

Earlier this month Hector Diaz walked out of the Marco Island Police Headquarters for the last time as a full time member of the department after serving 31 years in law enforcement; over twenty-two of those years were right here on Marco. He would be one of the last members of the original team hired as full-time members of the original department for the community.

Diaz had come to the island after originally beginning his career in law enforcement from Jacksonville, 

Florida. He worked for both the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and in law enforcement in the Port Authority of Jacksonville. When the department was being formed on Marco Island, Diaz saw the opportunity to move closer to his father who lived in Collier County.

Many remember Sgt. Diaz when he first arrived on Marco as he already had a partner - a K-9 shepherd named Sampson who was a favorite of the children around the island. Sampson was with Diaz for a total of nine years. When Sampson retired Sgt. Diaz took on another K-9 partner in Alan for several years.

Sgt. Diaz has worn many hats in the department; senior shift commander, marine patrol officer, motorcycle officer, as well as field training officer amongst other duties.

Diaz’s love lies in the law enforcement field, having now served on Marco since 1999 when the island first created the Marco Public Safety Department. He is proud of the fact he was the fourth officer hired on the island by then Chief Robert Boone.

He received the department’s coveted Officer of the Year Award in 2011; he had already received the “Phoenix Lifesaving Medal” more times than any other officer on the force.

Diaz is known for his upbeat and positive attitude in every challenge he undertakes. He was a mentor for many of the young officers who joined the department and assisted them in every aspect of their transition.

His love of athletics and children can be seen in his involvement within the community as a coach, league director and volunteer at the local park.  He also loves to fish. He has his Captain’s license and does charters throughout the Ten Thousand Islands.

In a conversation after the ceremony, Sgt. Diaz complimented the men and women he has worked with and recognized their contribution to making him the officer he became during his years in law enforcement, a profession he is very proud of.  

Diaz is also very proud of his children, one of which is a paramedic/firefighter in the area and a daughter who is attending college in North Carolina. However, should you ask, Diaz would point proudly to his father. Hector Sr. is the man he most greatly admires in life and that admiration by a father is seen as a trait which has been passed down to but another generation carrying the Diaz name.