For the past four years, Officer Candido Garcia has helped keep Kettering Health Springfield safe.
Working overnight at the campus, Garcia patrols the facility, responds to calls for assistance and works to identify potential problems before they escalate. Whether assisting caregivers, monitoring the campus or helping de-escalate tense situations involving patients or visitors, he brings decades of experience to the role.
“He has a knack for turning bad situations around with his skill and demeanor,” said Bradley Hotelling, a supervisor with Kettering Health’s Security Services. “Many possible violent and disorderly situations have been deescalated because of Ofc. Garcia’s ability to handle stressful situations.”
The experience Garcia relies on today is the product of a lifetime of service.
Born in the coastal Spanish town of Rota, Garcia was adopted at age 10 and moved to the United States when he was 12. He became a U.S. citizen shortly before turning 18.
“When I came to this country, I was very happy to be here,” Garcia said. “I became a U.S. citizen. I have never looked back.”
Soon after becoming a citizen, Garcia enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving in the Security Forces. He later continued his military service in the Ohio Air National Guard, completing 20-plus years in uniform.
His decision to serve would shape the rest of his life.
In 1991, Garcia joined the Springfield Police Department. Over the next 30 years, he remained on patrol, responding to thousands of calls involving robberies, assaults, domestic disputes, traffic accidents and mental health emergencies.
The work exposed him to people on some of the best and worst days of their lives and taught him lessons that continue to guide his approach today.
“Before I rush in, I try to figure out what’s going on,” Garcia said. “I think it’s helped me stay calm under pressure.”
Those instincts have proven valuable at Kettering Health Springfield, where patients and visitors are often facing difficult circumstances of their own. Garcia’s ability to assess situations, communicate with people in distress and recognize potential problems before they escalate helps create a safer environment for patients, visitors and staff.
His Spanish-speaking skills have also helped him connect with others when communication barriers exist. Hotelling recalled that, during Garcia’s training, Dayton police requested assistance with a sensitive matter involving a Spanish-speaking individual. According to Hotelling, the individual appeared relieved when Garcia arrived and assisted with the investigation.
After retiring from the Springfield Police Division in 2021, Garcia took a short break before joining Kettering Health. He became part of the team that helped open Kettering Health Springfield, Kettering Health’s first medical center in Clark County.
Looking at a career that has included military service, law enforcement and healthcare security, Garcia keeps his assessment simple.
“I think I helped a lot of people,” he said. “I feel like I served with dignity and honor.”