He has served with the Fayetteville Police Department since 1993. Now Lt. Glenn Askew is going to serve his country. Jan. 8 was the last day the nearly 20-year law enforcement veteran will see of his department for more than a year.

Prior to joining the Fayetteville department in 1993, he served in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he began his career in law enforcement in 1990. Askew also served three years with the U.S. Army after high school.

And here the 40-year-old Askew works in the Office of Professional Standards as a trainer and public information officer, among other duties. Two years after his hire with Fayetteville Police he joined the department’s SWAT team, where he has served as commander of the unit.

Askew has also served for five years in the Georgia National Guard with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry, 48th Brigade out of Newnan. It is there he begins training Jan. 30 for his deployment to Afghanistan. That deployment will last for more than a year, Askew said.

“I’m proud to serve and I’m glad to go. Afghanistan started because of 9/11 and we’re still looking for Bin Laden and the other terrorists,” Askew said.

Askew’s experience will benefit him in Afghanistan, as facets of his job will involve various types of training to Afghanis on the ground. The contributions of all those serving with the American Armed Forces, said Askew, is a matter of personal and national pride and accomplishment.

“It feels good to go over and help shape a country and make history,” he said with a smile, elaborating on what that might mean in the long-term for the more than 32 million citizens who call Afghanistan home. “A working government, laws with punishment and an army to defend their country. When Afghanistan has those things, we can leave.”

Once deployed, Askew will leave behind his wife Kelly, 13-year-old Troy and 4-year-old twins Olivia and Valerie. He said the impact on his family during his absence will be moderated due to Kelly’s own experiences as a child.

“Kelly was in an Army family that traveled the world. She knows how it works and she’s supportive,” Askew explained as he sat in the training room at the police department. “I’ll miss my family and I’ll miss my second family here.”

Commenting on Askew’s deployment, Chief Steve Heaton said the department will make the necessary adjustments in his absence, adding that Askew has been an integral part of officers’ ongoing training through the Office of Professional Standards.

“He does a great job for us. Anytime you lose somebody like Glenn it takes a toll on your resources,” Heaton said. “Kelly and the kids know to call us if or when they need us. If we can’t do it, we’ll find someone who can. We’ll just be looking forward to the day when we can welcome him back.”