Lt. George F. Wallace is retiring from the U.S. Park Police on Jan. 3 with more than 29 years of distinguished service. Wallace began his career with the USPP on Feb. 20, 1979. Upon graduating from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, he took an assignment at the Central District. There he patrolled the National Mall and surrounding parks; and later, the Baltimore Washington Parkway.

In 1984 Wallace graduated from horse-mounted training and accepted an assignment to Rock Creek Park. In 1987 he attained the rank of sergeant and returned to the Baltimore Washington Parkway as a patrol supervisor and later as the Crime Patrol Unit supervisor. As a sergeant in the Crime Patrol Unit, he accepted a detail to the U.S. Marshal’s Service and the Metropolitan Police on a Homicide Task Force. In 1990 he became the horse-mounted sergeant at Fort Dupont Park. In 1992 he accepted an assignment to the Special Forces Branch as a motorcycle sergeant.

The USPP promoted Wallace to lieutenant in 1996. Since that time, he has held assignments as a shift commander, the commander of the Horse Mounted Unit, commander of the Motorcycle Unit, and commander of the Narcotics and Vice Unit. His final assignment was as operations commander at the Central District. As commander of the Horse Mounted Unit, he represented the U.S. Park Police at the Centennial Celebration of the Munich Horse Mounted Unit in Munich, Germany. While on assignment with the Motor Unit, he was one of the first uniformed officers to arrive at the Pentagon and render assistance on Sept. 11, 2001.  During his assignment to Narcotics and Vice, he served on the Interagency Sniper Task Force in Montgomery County, Md.

During his career, Wallace received the Department of Interior Exemplary Act Award, the State of Maryland Governor’s Victim Assistance Award, two U.S. Park Police Lifesaving awards, several USPP Chief’s Certificates and numerous commendations.

Wallace is most proud that he had the privilege of pinning the badge on his sons Timothy and David, who have followed his career path with the U.S. Park Police.

Wallace’s career moves on as he has accepted a position with the National Park Service at Antietam National Battlefield.