What I do for WORK:
I began my
work career at the age of 12 mowing lawns for 25 cents each and delivering
papers that netted me about one cent each.
I then began
repairing radios and TV's for people in the neighborhood at the age of 14. I
use to love finding one that was beyond repair. This was because the owner
would normally give it to me to dispose of. Of course I would drag it home to
be cannibalized for parts. This was how I got parts to do repairs and build my
Ham Radio equipment. I was licensed
All of
my radio and test equipment was home brew and while I loved the challenge of
designing and constructing my own receivers and transmitters, I would have
given almost anything to have had the ability to purchase a commercially made
piece of equipment. While still in High School I designed and constructed a
dual conversion receiver with VFO and crystal filter. The first IF was at 11.7
MHz and the second was at 262KC. Why the strange frequencies? Well as I said
earlier, I cannibalized old radios for parts. The 11.7 first IF was because I
had crystals for the filter that were in the 11.7 MHz range. I used to regrind
my own crystals to the desired frequency with
At the
age of 17 I began working part time for Collins Radio and TV on
I also worked
part time for
This two was
a great learning experience in the communications field. In October of that
year I went to
I retired
from the City of
After about 3 months I was transferred to the vice squad where I was used primarily to gain entry into illegal liquor establishments. I was then transferred to the Community Relations Bureau and assigned to recruiting with Lt. Jack Cunningham as the unit commander. At the end of this assignment I was transferred back to the Vice unit. My time was cut short by my questioning the integrity and honesty of the unit commander. This resulted in my transfer to the Narcotics Unit. Click this for a picture of me in 1972 while I was working the Narcotics Unit.
My time in the
Narcotics Unit was enjoyable. One must remember that the seventies was a
different time when compared to present day. People (even the criminals) had
respect for Police officers. Unfortunately, today there is a large segment of
the citizenry that has no respect for Police, fellow citizens, or themselves.
In 1975 I was transferred out of the narcotics unit to the Communications
Bureau. I remained in that assignment until Chief Whiddon retired. I then was
assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division and worked on the SWAT team. I spent
the next few years in a variety of assignments both in and out of uniform. In
the early eighties, because of my communications and electronics background, I
was asked to accept a temporary assignment in the Communications Bureau. This
was a good assignment and I did everything from maintenance to dispatching to
computers. During this time the Fraternal Order of Police had been successful
in obtaining the rite of officers to bid for assignments by seniority. When I
was about to leave Communications for an easy assignment as a Sergeant, I was
asked by Major Richard Derrick to stay and help implement the change to
civilians in the Communications Bureau.
From 1986
until 1995 I was a Sergeant in the center and found it the most challenging of
any of my assignments. I left the assignment in February of 1996 after the
Police Communications was combined with Fire and
I was
now the Commander of the Street Gang Investigations Unit. While this sounded
great I had only one officer temporally assigned to the unit. I immediately
began to assess the extent of the gang activity in the community. In short
order determined that a minimum of six officers would be needed if the Police Department
were going to be serious in their efforts to control the proliferation of gangs
and their related illegal activities in the Akron area. I again found myself in
a position where my ideas and my desire to do what was best for the community
was in direct conflict with that of some of the high level supervisors and
policy makers of the department. It was a continual battle to get staff and
equipment. My one officer on temporary assignment was sent back to the Uniform
Division. I did manage to get two officers assigned to the unit but the powers
to be refused to provide any equipment for them to perform their duties. I have
always been good at procuring things so over time we managed to obtain some of
the things necessary for the performance of the duties of the unit.
We were
beginning to develop some good contacts and information regarding the gangs and
the criminal activity perpetrated by them. We had developed many good
informants and things were looking up until I started an investigation that
required the aid of the State of Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and
that of the State Attorney General. Our chain of command was changed so that we
reported directly to a new Deputy Chief that was of questionable character and
honesty. In short order Information was leaked regarding our investigations and
we were told by the Deputy Chief that our unit was going to be turned into a
"Street Crimes Unit and assigned to the 8 P.M. to 4 A. M. shift! Prior to
this time we worked whatever hours were necessary to accomplish or tasks. I
advised the Deputy Chief's supervisor of what was transpiring and explained
that there was reason to question the integrity and honesty of the Deputy
Chief. Again my concerns fell on deaf ears.
As a result
of not being able to prevent or stop the travesties and the unethical
activities of the Deputy Chief, for the second time in my career I did what was
best for me and not the community. In July of 1996 I chose to retire and get
away form the undesirables and gross incompetence. I have often said that if it
were private industry they would have been bankrupt and the executive board
would have been fired, arrested or both.
In 1996
at the time of my leaving the job, I had 26 & 1/2 years of service. I had
the fortune to have had a great career. Each day was different and I would like
to think I made at least a small difference. One of my most rewarding
assignments was my duty as a "Crisis Negotiator". At the time of my
retirement I had 100% success in negotiating the peaceful resolution of all
hostage/barricaded suspect situations. This I believe was due to God's
blessings and the great training I received from Sergeant Earl Wykoff and the
FBI. Some may say that it was simply because of luck or my ability to talk for
hours on end. The persons simply could not stand to hear me ramble on any
longer! Oh well - That's another story in its self!
During my
career with the Police Department I always did other work on the side. I worked
part time for Art and Arron at Lafayette radio until 1972. For a number of
years I had a Two Way Communications business. I did repair installation, and
sales of equipment. I handled Standard, GE, and Motorola LMR equipment. The
business grew in the 80's to the point where it was large enough so as not to be
fun. It was difficult to find honest and competent help. As a result I closed
the business and vowed to only do what was fun. Thus far I have managed to
stick with that policy for the last fifteen years.
Since
retirement I am no longer one of the boss men. My lovely wife Charmaine is now
the boss. I make every effort to comply with her directives. She freely admits
that I am a great "House Husband".
When time
permits, I do some consulting in the areas of RF Communication, Computers and
Industrial Security. I am a member of the parish council at St. Bernard Church
in
I am also a
cancer survivor having been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2002. If you whish to talk about cancer – feel free
to email me or give me a call by phone or radio.
I am enjoying
retirement from the
So long for
now and send me your thoughts.
73, Rich WA8DBW
Retired and loving it.
