Jonathan Wackrow is a CNN law enforcement analyst and former agent with the US Secret Service, serving in the presidential protection division. He is a managing director at Teneo Risk, a strategic risk mitigation advisory firm. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his. View more opinion on CNN.

(CNN) Just before midnight on Friday evening, I received the news from a current US Secret Service agent. His message said, "We lost Timberwolf -- a part of us is gone."

Reading these nine words, I was heavy with sorrow -- for both the Bush family and for the agency. In addition to losing a father, statesman and public servant, we lost a man who had become the shining example of integrity and kindness during the 38 years we had the honor of protecting him.

George H.W. Bush, whose protective call sign was "Timberwolf," was arguably the agency's most beloved protectee.

Since the Secret Service began protecting the then vice-presidential candidate in 1980, Timberwolf would be at the center of both world history and cherished memories for generations of special agents.

In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a present-day Secret Service employee who does not have a personal story of the late president. But more importantly, each of these stories would share a common theme: the deep and genuine respect that the President had, not only for members of the Secret Service, but also for law enforcement more broadly.

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