Palmetto police chief follows King's philosophies in his life, job; Garry Lowe hopes to send a positive message of diversity and equality to the community through the police force.(A SECTION)

Byline: SELINA ROMAN selina.roman@heraldtribune.com

PALMETTO -- After the standard English greeting on the police chief's voice mail, a somewhat stammering Spanish greeting begins.

"Hola, soy el jefe Garry Lowe ... "

That message illustrates Chief Garry Lowe's commitment to diversity in his small community, where Hispanic residents make up about 25 percent of the population.

Lowe says he's been influenced throughout his life, on and off the job, by the philosophies of unity, respect and equality preached by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

He said King's words, especially his "I have a dream" speech, stay with him as he moves through his everyday responsibilities.

"It's almost that idea of persistence and determination to overcome obstacles," Lowe said at a banquet honoring the civil rights leader on Friday.

Lowe knew from the beginning that overcoming racial barriers …