Officer Honored For More Than 3 Decades Of Service With OCPD

Detective Don Hull has spent more than 35 years of his life at the Oklahoma City Police Department. And at Thursday's retirement ceremony, he was surrounded by friends, family and coworkers.  Also, in the crowd was a special young man he helped save back in 1995.

There was a lot of clapping and smiling as Officer Don Hull accepted his 35-year police pin and other gifts for his lengthy service with OCPD.

Looking at his rookie photo, it’s hard to believe that this same young man would go on to serve the department through the 1980s, the 90's and almost two decades into the year 2000. Hull said he has wanted to be a police officer ever since he was five years old.

“It’s something I've done my entire adult life,” said Hull. “It is the only thing I've ever wanted to be. It’s my dream job.”

Hull would go on to save at least three lives during his time on the force. He won the department's life-saving award for rescuing an elderly couple from a burning home in the 1980’s. And he received the medal of Valor for all he did during the April 19,1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

News 9 was there last year when Hull reconnected with Joe Webber, the young man he pulled out of the rubble alive that terrible day. Thursday, Webber was there along with Don's friends and family for his retirement.

“I refer to Joe as my light in the darkness,” said Hull. “And it was such an honor to have him here to celebrate with me this time.”

Hull also received a special box commemorating his time with the department and his time with the Special Olympics. A picture shown was taken in 2003, when he was chosen to represent Oklahoma and run the Special Olympics torch from Athens to Ireland as part of the world games.

As this chapter of his life closes, he is anxiously awaiting what the next chapter holds.

“I'm open to whatever God wants me to do,” said Hull.

Now that Don has retired, he plans to travel with his wife but he still plans on doing a lot with the Special Olympics.