Larry Tan, who has served New Castle County as a paramedic for 37 years, the past 19 as chief, retired on Friday, October 4, 2019.
Tan was given a walkout ceremony from the county's public safety building, which is traditional in the public safety services. He admits he couldn't have imagined his career culminating like this.
"Did I ever anticipate I would get to the level that I have, no.
"Certainly to have the opportunity to influence how people are cared for that become suddenly ill or injured in New Castle County to the level that I have, absolutely not."
Joseph Leonetti, Senior Director of Operations at St. Francis Hospital and long time New Castle County volunteer firefighter summed up Tan's career in three main words: "He's brought professionalism and expertise and also compassion."
Tan says he's humbled.