It was a bittersweet day at the College Station Police Department Friday, as two officers retired from the force.

Phil Brown spent nearly 27 years with CSPD to cap of a law enforcement career that started in 1976. He was part of the traffic unit here since 1988 and was SWAT team sniper.

Also, after more than 16 years on the force, Officer Tracy Sheets retired Friday. She had been a member of the department's forensics team since 2006, but made headlines in January 2010 when a drunk driver crashed her sports car head on into Sheets patrol car, leaving her with serious injuries.

The driver, Alex Ford, was later convicted of intoxication assault. She is currently in prison, but appealing.

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The following is the press release issued by CSPD for Brown and Sheets:

On Friday, May 25, 2012, Officer Phil Brown and Officer Tracy Sheets will retire from the College Station Police Department. Officer Brown retires with 26 years, 9 months of dedicated service. Officer Sheets retires with 16 years, 4 months of dedicated service. A reception honoring these fine officers will be held at the College Station Conference Center, 1300 George Bush Drive from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. All are invited to join us to honor their service.

In 1976, Officer Brown started as a Police Explorer Scout in El Cajon, California. He became a reserve officer in California in 1981 and continued in that position until 1984 when he moved to College Station and began working for the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office. Officer Brown was hired by the College Station Police Department in 1985. In 1988, Phil joined the Traffic Unit, where he has served faithfully since. Brown has been a sniper for the SWAT team and an advisor for the CSPD Explorer troop. In 2005, he received an outstanding unit award and in 2006 he was named Kiwanis Club Officer of the Year. He was nominated for City Employee of the Year in 2008 and he holds his Master Peace Officer Certificate. Officer Brown has attended numerous Collision Reconstruction Schools and has been an integral part of the CSPD Collision Reconstruction Team. He has been married to his wife, Debbie, since 1985 and he has two children, Steven and Katy.

Officer Sheets graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She joined the College Station Police Department in 1994 and worked as a member of the patrol division until 1999 when she left the department briefly to pursue an opportunity in the private sector. In May 2001, Sheets returned to CSPD as a patrol officer. In September 2006, Sheets became a member of the forensic team, working as a crime scene technician in addition to her patrol duties. She has received an outstanding unit award and an outstanding service award. Sheets is an IPMBA Certified Bike Patrol Officer, a certified crime prevention inspector, a TABC certified Project S.A.V.E. instructor and she holds a Master Peace Officer Certificate. In addition, Officer Sheets has received extensive training in the area of forensic investigations.

Please join the College Station Police Department in wishing Officers Brown and Sheets the best in coming years.