Enthusiastic 88-year-old becomes the oldest graduate of TPA’s Citizen Police Academy

When David Lopez walked up to receive his certificate at last week’s graduation ceremony for Class 10 of the Tampa International Airport Citizen Police Academy, he officially became the oldest person ever to complete the program.

At 88 years old, Lopez participated in all seven weeks of the course, including taser training, facility tours, K-9 demonstrations, a physical abilities test, and even target practice at the firing range, beating all of his classmates and even a few officers.

“I’ve enjoyed every single minute,” said Lopez.  “I had not fired a gun since 1978.”

That’s around the time when Lopez retired from his 23-year military career as a U.S. Marine and briefly took a job as a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher before joining Piedmont Airlines at Tampa International Airport in 1980. He would spend the next 14 years working at TPA, only to return after his retirement from the airline business to serve as a TPA Volunteer Ambassador, where he remains active today assisting visitors to the Airport who need help finding their way.

“Working at the Airport gets in your blood,” said Lopez.  “It was always in my blood because I wanted to become a pilot but couldn’t because I am colorblind.”

Lopez has now volunteered an amazing 2,900 hours at TPA. “I just love helping people,” he said.

Lopez was joined at his Citizen Police Academy graduation by his daughter, grandson, girlfriend, and friends from the TPA Volunteer Ambassador program. Lopez says his favorite part of the experience was learning about how TPAPD’s officers keep everyone at the Airport safe and experiencing the amazing camaraderie among officers.

Ready to turn 89 years old in September, Lopez says he has no plans of slowing down any time soon. 

“As long as you’re enjoying life and enjoying what you do, you might as well keep going.”