When Ben Glaudi joined the New Orleans Police Department as a new recruit, John F. Kennedy had just won the U.S. Presidency and Ray Charles’ “Georgia on My Mind” was at the top of the Billboard Music charts.

A lot has changed over the past 56 years, but what has remained steady is Glaudi’s work ethic.

"When you enjoy doing something, it's really not work," said Sgt. Glaudi. "It's really a treasure for me to come to work."

The New Orleans native is now a Sergeant and he’s spent the past several decades heading up the NOPD’s Mobile Crisis Unit, a division of civilian volunteers who work in coordination with the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) to help people in mental health crises.

“I run it all,” said Glaudi. “I recruit the people. I train them. I manage them. I discipline them. Whatever has to be done, I do it all."

“They come out here and do this on their own time,” he said. “I’m real proud of them.”

Glaudi is even prouder that he’s not the only Sergeant Glaudi on the force. 

Sergeant Bruce Glaudi, Ben’s youngest son, runs the CIT training program, working hand in hand with his dad every day. In fact, the son and father duo work closely together sharing an office space on South Jefferson Davis Parkway.

Ben’s oldest son, Sergeant Brad Glaudi, serves in the Fourth District.

“There are people who have known me for years and they still call me Brad or Ben and vice versa and it happens to them too,” said Bruce.

Both Bruce and Brad joined the NOPD in 1985 eager to follow in their father’s footsteps and serve their community.

“I can remember as a small boy as far back as kindergarten class when my dad would come pick me up and he’d walk in the classroom with his uniform on and I thought that was real cool,” said Brad. 

Bruce and Brad said watching their father dedicate his life to serving his community over the years was a huge influence on their decision to follow him onto the force.

“The influence was enormous, just watching him at a small age and being so proud of him,” said Bruce.

At the time, their father Ben was working in the department’s emergency medical unit. That’s where he says he developed his passion to help people with mental illnesses. 

His sons say they understand their father’s calling to continue to do what he loves.

“When you find a purpose in your life like he has and a passion to do something you do,” said Bruce.

At the age of 86, you might think Ben is primed for retirement. But a life away from the NOPD is nowhere in his sight right now.

“As I said as long as I can get up and do the job I have to do,” said Sgt. Ben. “As long as I feel that I‘m doing something that I am responsible for I’m going to stick around a little bit longer."

However much longer that is, it’s clear this family is in it for the long haul. Combined, the three of them have already dedicated more than 100 years of service to the NOPD.

To learn more about joining the NOPD, go to www.joinnopd.org