For 37 years, Trooper Mark Gilberg’s patrol shifts had usually finished the same way, but this day was different.
Most of us incorporate our professions into our daily lives and identities. In fact, the majority of us spend more time at work with our coworkers than we do at home with our own families. Mark Gilberg was a trooper for the Arizona Department of Public Safety for 37 years.
In that period, he has stopped approximately 50,000 vehicles.He has also been involved in car chases and accidents. He has even had to inform families that a loved one has died, which was heartbreaking.
«I’ve seen nearly everything, and it’s been a lot of fun.» Mark told 2KUTV that his profession is tough and full of ups and downs.
But it was his final call, on March 30, 2018, that made him renowned worldwide.
Carol, his wife of 40 years, caught him taking the call on tape, and when his son shared it on social media, it quickly went viral.
Carol wanted to save the film as a memento of her husband’s time on the force.Because of how sad it was, the video became viral.
It depicts Mark wiping away his emotions in his police cruiser.
He clears his throat and tries to relax before picking up his police radio.«I tried not to be upset. «I did everything I could to stop it,» Mark explained.
«I’m not sure; it just occurred to me.» «I really don’t know what to say.»
Because to those tears, he received almost five million views.«I just thought about all my friends in the department who have died, either naturally or in the line of duty,» he said on the police department’s website, «and I thought about how beautiful Escalante National Monument is and how I see it every day on my way home from work.»
«I’ve always respected cops, and I always will.»
When the dispatcher answers the phone, Mark informs him that this is his final call. The dispatcher informs Mark that everyone on the other end of the radio is likewise crying.
He then expresses gratitude to everyone who has assisted him or worked with him, stating that it has been a pleasure and a joy to serve as an Arizona State Trooper.
«It’s been great fun. «Thanks a lot, and keep smiling,» he replies as the phone call ends.
Mark then begins crying again, but the tape cuts out before he can finish.«He was taking other people’s shifts in the days before his official retirement date and didn’t seem to be slowing down at all.» «I told him to calm down because I didn’t want him to spend his retirement going to court on his cases,» Sgt. John Bottoms recalled, describing Mark’s work ethic as «legendary.»
Mark spent his entire career as a police officer in the Highway Patrol. Arizona State Police believe he is the trooper who has served the longest in the State Highway Patrol’s history.
«I’m glad it’s over,» Mark said of his employment, «but I miss it.»
Mark plans to spend his retirement traveling and spending time with his grand𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. He never thought that the video of his last call would be seen by millions of people. His story was told on Fox and Friends, NBC News, and a lot of other shows. Even after two years, we’re still writing about it!
“It’s pretty funny. You know, it all started when my son suggested that my wife videotape the last call. He thought it would be a nice thing for the family to have as a reminder,” he said. “At his request, we uploaded the video to YouTube, and then my phone started going crazy. It’s been a great way to honor him. I loved my job,”
And the video below makes that very clear.
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