McCutcheon retires from Boca PD

BOCA RATON, FL -- The Boca Raton Police Department opened its doors in 1925.

It is a department that has grown from half a dozen officers to 200 today.

Two of those officers have a special distinction -- providing  decades of service to the department.

Friday was the last day at work for Boca Raton Police Sgt. Mike McCutcheon.

He retired.

So you could say Friday marks the 'end of an era' in the City of Boca Raton.

The McCutcheon era.

One police station. One family. Over 50 years of service.

"'56 to '80... how many is that?... 20...." says Charlie McCutcheon. 

24 years for former chief Charlie McCutcheon and 28 years for son Michael McCutcheon.

Even son Patrick worked at the Boca Raton Police Department.

But Mike is the last to leave.

At the Boca Raton Police Department, the McCutcheon case is now closed.

"I'm turning the last page and starting a new chapter, but that last chapter kinda kept me on the edge of my seat," says Mike.

From officer to vice to sergeant, "Michael Mac" had a knack for police work.

He worked undercover, protected dignitaries, solved cases, and helped others learn the trade. 

"He talks about how people are and how to deal with people on a personal level... that's being lost in law enforcement," says Detective Jim Giumenta.

"Doesn't get much better than this guy... irreplaceable. He's the Dan Marino of this department," says Detective Mark Horowitz.

"Coach" McCutcheon, also known as "Charlie Mac," brought his team to Boca in the 50's but didn't plan to stay.

"We came down here in 1953 in an old 1948 studebaker," says Charlie.

"And my pops car broke down. He couldn't afford to get the thing fixed," says Mike.

"So I had to get a job so I could buy enough oil to go back to Pennsylvania, and I never did get enough money to buy enough oil to go back," adds Charlie.

Charlie and sons sure gave back to the department and to the city.
 
For many on the force, they'll miss the McCutcheon supervision and something appreciated in this line of work: laughter and funny stories due to that daily McCutcheon dose of humor.

"There's so many (stories)," says Horowitz.

"I can think of a few," adds Mike.

Charlie says it's the people he misses most.

Like father like son.

"I will miss this team. There's a great group of people here, always has been in my experience," says Mike. 

Like many of us would, Sgt. McCutcheon plans to head to the beach in his retirement.

But you won't be able to call him a beach bum.

He'll actually be working.

Mike McCutchoen will be the security manager at the Boca Raton Resort's new beach club.

Patrick McCutcheon went on to work at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. Charlie did too.

Patrick is currently on the public safety team for the Palm Beach County School District.

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