PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL AND JACK PORTUNE

In Lakeland, service is more than a job. It’s a legacy. Through stories of resilience, leadership, and remembrance, the Lakeland Police Department reveals a family bonded not just by duty, but by shared purpose.

To most, the badge represents law and order. But inside the Lakeland Police Department, it also signifies something deeper: commitment, sacrifice and a resilient family that shows up for one another—both in uniform and in life.

Ask Sergeant Chad Mumbauer what it means to serve, and you’ll get more than a job description. You’ll hear the story of a man who’s battled brain cancer three times—once while undergoing surgery awake—and who still chooses to report for duty with hope and humility.

“I always wanted to be a real American Hero like the GI Joe Cartoons to someone,” Chad says. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he joined LPD in 1995, driven by a calling to protect and connect with others. But nothing prepared him for what lay ahead.

In 2011, Chad was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Five blood clots in his lungs landed him in the hospital: an accident that, in hindsight, may have saved his life. Just weeks later, he underwent his first brain surgery. “My family didn’t know how I’d function when I woke up,” he recalls.

But function he did. And then some.

“Behind the scenes, our officers face trauma every day. This memorial reminds us that our families carry that weight too. We owe it to them to remember.”

— Asst. Chief Steve Pacheco

When cancer returned in 2015, he endured 12 rounds of chemotherapy. In 2020, it struck again requiring another surgery, this time at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Through each trial, Chad leaned on his colleagues at LPD, describing the support as something “you can’t duplicate or replicate.” Officers visited. They checked in. They showed up.

“People think of us as robots, but we have families. We go through real things,” he says. “The job is difficult enough—when you’re coming to work on the heels of trauma, you find out who you really are.”

Now in remission, Chad serves in the Special Operations division. He continues to give death notifications, respond to crises and mentor those grappling with personal hardships. His trials have made him more empathetic, more grounded. “I found a new gift, a voice to speak into others’ pain. We value life differently in this profession.”

His strength hasn’t gone unnoticed. Former Chief of Police Ruben Garcia, worked and trained alongside Chad in many capacities, including the S.W.A.T. team. He shared, “Chad has become an icon in the tactical community: a true survivor, a warrior and a role model of hope.”

And through it all, Chad has found new joy in everyday things, from getting out of bed to breathing deeply to getting back out to serve the community he loves. He speaks at colleges and high schools about what he calls “the power of one”—how one small act of kindness can ripple out into something bigger.

That same heart beats in Assistant Chief Steve Pacheco, who is set to retire this year after more than four decades in law enforcement. His path wasn’t always clear. He originally trained to become a carpenter, but a friend’s encouragement led him into corrections at just 19 years old. By 1987, he had joined the Lakeland Police Department and began a journey that would shape generations.

“I think this is a great career,” Pacheco says. “There are so many unseen ways we help people. And if I can use my experience to help even one person, it’s all worth it.”

Pacheco doesn’t just speak about mental health and resilience—he lives it. After losing his second wife to suicide in 2007, he nearly left the profession altogether. It was the support of his family, his colleagues and professional counseling that carried him forward.

Today, he teaches a mental health and wellness course for all incoming officers. He’s also deeply involved in the Lakeland Police Foundation, which offers aid to officers and their families facing medical or personal crises, like Sgt. Mumbauer.

Perhaps one of his greatest legacies is bringing to life the Lakeland Police Fallen Heroes Memorial, which he helped start in 2017 alongside other department leaders. The memorial honors the seven officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the city of Lakeland. A bronze honor guard sculpture and illuminated glass badge stand watch over etched plaques, each telling a story of valor and love.

“It’s sacred ground,” Pacheco says. “Behind the scenes, our officers face trauma every day. This memorial reminds us that our families carry that weight too. We owe it to them to remember.”

The department’s commitment to supporting its own extends far beyond the front lines. From the Police Explorer program that mentors teens, to funding for retired K-9s, to appreciation luncheons for retired officers, LPD’s foundation ensures no member is forgotten.

That familial spirit is what continues to define the culture at LPD. Officers describe each other as brothers and sisters, not just colleagues. Whether it’s rallying around a coworker battling illness or carrying on the legacy of a fallen friend, they do it together.

For Sgt. Mumbauer and Assistant Chief Pacheco, the badge has never been about power—it’s been about people. And as both men look toward their next chapter, they leave behind more than just years of service. They leave behind hope, example, and a department shaped by their quiet strength.

As Chad puts it, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” In Lakeland, that change is already happening — one badge, one story, one act of service at a time.

“People think of us as robots, but we have families. We go through real things.”

— Sgt. Chad Mumbauer

The Heart Behind the Badge

Rogue Missionary

From Stigma to Solutions