- December 13, 2025
-
-
Loading
Loading
As Sarasota Police Department Capt. Demetri Konstantopoulos paused for about 20 seconds amid his remarks to collect his thoughts and emotions, there was no sound among the approximately 100 who gathered in the Commission Chamber to celebrate his retirement.
The Nov. 7 ceremony came a week after the 28-year veteran shed his SPD badge for that of the Sarasota County Schools Police Department, where after a weekend between jobs he started on Nov. 3 as Deputy Chief.
The room filled with fellow officers including a former beat partner, command staff members, family members including five of his six children, city officials and others who for just more than an hour expressed and received mutual gratitude for his 28 years of service to the SPD.
“Don't look at me, because I'll cry,” SPD Chief Rex Troche said to Konstantopoulos, as he sat in the front row of the chamber with members of his large family.
One by one, members of the department and community leaders with whom he worked with over the years stepped up to the podium, expressed their admiration and gratitude and, in most instances, choked back tears.
“We've worked together for over 25 years,” said Capt. Johnathan Todd. “You've been an awesome partner, confidant and, most importantly, true friend in every sense of the word. We did some great things as policemen, but more importantly, we solved a lot of problems in most significant debates, like what's the best mafia movie?”
For 33 minutes, Konstantopoulos then weaved tales of prior partners, friendships, community engagement and the support of his family of six children and his wife, Andria.
“They endured — just like every police family or first responder family — the delayed holiday dinners and even canceled holiday dinners; missed birthdays; when you're on night shift and the next day, because you've been up all night, you're grouchy,” Konstantopoulos said. “Certainly I have a lot of emotion retiring from SPD after 28 years, but they also have that emotion.”
And of Andria he said, “You can't be successful in law enforcement unless you have someone at home holding it down.”
Representing the family, his son, George, who is serving in the U.S. Navy, spoke of the deep connection not only officers make with each other, but with their families as well.
“We all share a physical bond, the trials and tribulations of having our mothers and fathers serve the community,” he said. “Over the last 28 years, he loved working with you guys in a way that you may not really understand. You grow up and you think that you're the one to see your dad go to work as a police officer, and it's not until a while later that you actually realize you were watching him grow up in the police department.
“I just wanted to say from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of my family, thank you for letting him grow up with you guys. You guys are all my family.”
Konstantopoulos isn’t going far. His first day at his new job as deputy chief of the Sarasota County Schools Police Department was Nov. 3, just two days after retiring from SPD.
“This room really reflects the relationships that D.K. has built over the course of 28 years,” Troche said. “Seeing such a strong turnout is really a testament to what he's done over the course of all these years and the personal connections that he's fostered. The support in this room is a true reflection of the impact he has made on all of us within the department across the broader community.”
