BENTONVILLE — Sheriff Keith Ferguson and three in his command will hang up their guns at the end of the year.

Hundreds of people turned out at the Bentonville National Guard Armory on Friday to honor Ferguson, Chief Deputy Don Townsend, Maj. Gene Drake and Capt. Mike Sydoriak for their years of service to the Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement.

Ferguson spent 32 years as an Arkansas State Trooper and is in his 10th year as sheriff. Townsend has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 39 years; Sydoriak for 32 years; and Drake for 29 years and one other year with the Decatur Police Department.

“A career is something that chooses you,” David Townsend said as he talked about his father’s 39-year law enforcement career.

David Townsend said his father dedicated his life to law enforcement, but joked one of his father’s accomplishments was keeping Sonic in business “by buying two sodas each day.”

Don Kendall, a longtime friend of Ferguson, told the audience while Ferguson was a state trooper Ferguson placed his life in harm’s way on different occasions, including aiding another officer to save a fellow police officer during the Frankie Parker standoff at the Rogers Police Department on Nov. 5, 1984.

Tommy Flowers with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency presented the four with certificates of appreciation for their service and 3rd District Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, gave each man an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in their honor.

The four also received their duty weapons, which were placed in blue cases and awarded to them. Ferguson awarded the weapons to Sydoriak, Drake and Townsend. Townsend awarded Ferguson’s duty weapon to him. “You have been an outstanding sheriff,” Townsend said to Ferguson.

The audience laughed as stories were shared about the men, and each man showed their emotional side as they addressed the audience.

Sydoriak thanked Ferguson for including him in the retirement ceremony. “I will remember it for the rest of my life,” Sydoriak said.

Sydoriak said the Sheriff’s Office had been good to him. He met his wife, Phyllis, years ago when she also worked at the Sheriff’s Office.

Drake only had a few words. “I’ve enjoyed my career,” Drake said. “It’s time to move on.”

Townsend said he was honored to work with great law enforcement officers throughout his career. “It’s hard to get up and tell you how I feel,” Townsend said.

Ferguson praised his deputies and staff. “I have the best department a man could ever supervise,” he said. “I can have tears in my eyes, too. It’s humbling, very humbling to know people have come here to honor you.”

Capt. Hunter Petray said it was his and other deputies’ responsibilities to step forward and use the knowledge they learned from Ferguson, Townsend, Drake and Sydoriak.

“It’s the only true way our profession can survive,” Petray said.