In a heartwarming intersection of public service and tradition, two officers from the Collierville Police Department (CPD) in Tennessee took on a role outside their usual patrol duties. Officers Jared Hopper and Arkimides Cervantes were named Honorary Duckmasters at The Peabody Memphis, according to the Collierville Town website. This honorary title was in recognition of their service last month, when the "Duck Rescue Unit," as they've been affectionately dubbed, saved a family of ducks in distress.
Joining the Peabody's official Duckmaster, Kenon Walker, the officers were tasked with escorting the famous waterfowl from their penthouse suite to the fountain in the hotel lobby. The tradition, a draw for tourists from places as far-flung as Australia, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands, offered a moment for travelers to snap photos with the hero officers. The homage to the ducks' routine at The Peabody Memphis harks back to a playful start in 1933 and evolved into a procession so esteemed that it now enchants a global audience daily.
Since its inception, the Peabody Duck March has become an endearing spectacle. At 11 a.m. sharp each morning, the ducks make their well-coordinated journey from the rooftop to the lobby's fountain, guided by the Duckmaster. As the town of Collierville celebrated, they offered a "big thanks to Duckmaster Kenon Walker and the staff of the Peabody Hotel for this wonderful opportunity" for Officers Hopper and Cervantes to partake in the venerable tradition, as per the Collierville Town website.
The history of this quirky Memphis charm dates back to the hotel's general manager, Frank Schutt, who originally placed duck decoys in the hotel’s fountain back in the 30s. A few years later, a bellman and former circus animal trainer, Edward Pembroke, elevated the stunt into the full-fledged Duck March. Today, the ducks' parade continues and serves as a bridge between the community and its law enforcement, fostering a unique kind of fellowship in the heart of Memphis.
