“The best prophet of the future is in the past.” — Author unknown
On Sept. 28, 2013, Phoenix Police retirees were treated to an open house at the Phoenix Police Museum. Approximately 63 retired Phoenix Police officers and their families attended, many for the first time. Highlights included a continental breakfast and a great tour of the old jail given by Carroll Cooley and Leo Speliopoulos. Thanks to all the museum volunteers: Mike Nikolin, Tom Schmultz, Wayne Bensfield, Bob Demlong and Linda Schall, as well as Carroll and Leo.
It’s not too early to put on your calendar…. March 8, 2014, will be the first-ever annual retired officers, dispatchers and families picnic!
This event has been planned well in advance so out-of-staters can obtain really cheap airline tickets. It will be held at Sahuaro Ranch Park, located at 9802 North 59th Avenue in Glendale, Ariz. The event begins at 11 a.m. and continues until whenever, and we have obtained a beer permit.
We plan on holding a raffle for some coveted police and non-police items. If you are interested in contributing items for the raffle, please contact me at (623) 465-9569. So far our contributors for the raffle include Steve Proctor, Tony Boynton, Wayne Stadler and Al Nordeen. We could use more items and all proceeds from the raffle will go to the Phoenix Police Museum.
With the help of John Augustyn, President of the Association of Retired Phoenix Police Officers (ARPO), we have rented two large ramadas with grills. Since this is our first-ever reunion of retired folks, we are doing it BYOB and BYOF — bring your own beer and bring your own food — a true picnic. This will be an historic event that you do not want to miss.
Facebook Group Update
Our Retired Phoenix Police Officers and Dispatchers Facebook group is still growing by four or five members a week. This has been a fantastic vehicle for reconnecting with one another and sharing old stories, memories and photos. Sometimes a retiree may need a little help, a visit or maybe a phone call from an old friend. This is what members of this group can do: reach out, officers helping officers. We share the most beautiful thing…a Phoenix Police badge with the well-earned word “retired.”
To join the Facebook group, contact either me at joyce15448@aol.com or Al Contreras at Zorro2705@yahoo.com.
By Joyce Hubler
Detective (ret.)
Retirees’ Corner is dedicated to those who served proudly as Phoenix police officers protecting their community.
Because of publication deadlines and mailing dates, by the time you read this, we will have had our first-ever
Retired Phoenix Police Officers and Dispatchers (and family) picnic on March 8, 2014. The invitation included active Phoenix police officers who are due to retire in the next few years. We held a raffle with an award for the lowest serial number present. On behalf of all who attended, a special thank-you goes out to Fran Anatra and Steve Proctor for collecting items for the raffle. All proceeds were donated to the Phoenix Police Museum.
Our donors included:
- Phoenix Law Enforcement Association
- Arizona Highway Patrol Association
- Phoenix Police Museum
- Andy Baxter
- Steve Proctor
- Tony Boynton
- Gary Vigneault
- Al Nordeen
- Fran Anatra
- Andrew Best Sr.
- Jerry Statham
- John Thompson
We will provide a complete update on our picnic, including photographs, in the May/June issue of the Phoenix Law Enforcer.
If you would like to become a member of our Retired Phoenix Police Officers and Dispatchers Facebook Group, please contact me at Joyce15448@aol.com and an invitation will be sent to you. You will need to set up a Facebook account prior to accepting the invitation. It is a “secret” group not found via search engines and you must be invited to join. Any active Phoenix police officers or dispatchers with 18 years or more of service (looking toward retirement) may also join. This is the one way we have of keeping up with one another regardless of what city, state or country we retire to. There are lots of stories of radio calls, photos and reconnecting with old friends. Richard Bequette, #920, posted an interesting article this month on obtaining LEOSA permits to carry concealed weapons in other states. Dick White, #990, posted great old photos and memories of early days on the Phoenix Police Department. Manny Cota, #3682, Ron Bates, #1968, and so many others shared fantastic memories with the group, which is now 501 members strong: Ken Dubois, #3103, was lucky number 500 to join and Manny Cota is
number 501.
Best wishes to “Max” Braden, #1345, who is recuperating from illness in Idaho and to Mark Heimbigner, #2123, who is on the mend list in Sun City, Arizona. Congratulations to Ed Kiyler, #435, who had one grandson graduate
from the Academy this year and has a second grandson who will begin the Academy in March 2014. Both of them are with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Final Call
Gordon Selby, #372: Gordon was the model for the Arizona Peace Officers Memorial, and retired Phoenix Officer Gordon Hunsaker wrote about him in the book Gunfights and Gunfighters.
Ed Salem, #1072: Joined the Phoenix Police Department in 1962 and retired in 1985. Jack McLamb, #3115: Passed away in Indiana after suffering a stroke.
Chuck Kessler, #2414: Passed away on January 29 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Thank you, gentlemen.
Alice Mary “Bunny” Click, wife of retired Assistant Chief Ben Click, passed away January 29.
By Joyce Hubler
Detective (ret.)
Picnic
When I started the Retired Phoenix Police Officers and Dispatchers Facebook group, I was immediately struck by the emotion involved as old friends and partners reconnected after decades of not knowing what had happened to one another. I thought the idea of a picnic reunion would work … but I had no idea. Who could have guessed, since it was our first-ever reunion of retirees, that we would have 225 officers, dispatchers and family members show up to have a wonderful time? I have not heard from one person who did not enjoy themselves, and the only comment I have heard over and over after the picnic is “What date is our next reunion picnic?”
The raffle was wonderful and raised $2,206, which was donated to the Phoenix Police Museum. Some folks have stepped forward to volunteer to help with next year’s picnic and I am very grateful to them. Rob Asay, Nancy and Cave Golding, Steve and Wanda Proctor, and Fran Anatra all did a great job with the raffle, and we could use more help with that next year.
The grand prize winner was Peggy Millsap, who won the beautiful Colt .45 semi-automatic handgun donated by Dave Lane. Dennis Garrett won a bottle of Scotch, and Deb Byers Black won a beautiful gift basket. There were many winners, thanks to our generous contributors.
Andrew Best Sr. won a prize for the lowest officer’s serial number present, with 303, and his wife won for the lowest dispatcher’s “A” number present.
We’re looking at March 7, 2015, for the next picnic. Please contact me if you have a raffle item to donate or would like to volunteer to help.
A special thank-you goes out to the following contributors who donated prizes for the raffle:
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By Joyce Hubler
Detective (ret.)
Leonard Lukasik
Len, 71 years old, passed away December 6, 2013, after suffering from Parkinson’s disease for several years. Len was a Phoenix police officer for more than 25 years and worked as a burglary detective at North Resource Bureau and Squaw Peak Precinct. Len is preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Diane, and he leaves behind two daughters and three grandchildren. Services for Len were held December 12, with burial at Phoenix Memorial Cemetery.
The “700” Detectives were known for their practical jokes and Lenny was usually on the wrong end of these jokes. Many times Len would have to field phone calls from strangers wanting to buy his personal truck after it had been suspiciously moved to 16th Street and Bethany Home Road, with a for sale sign and a ridiculously low price.
Another famous “practical” was the day Len received a phone call from the Chief ’s office congratulating him on winning #6034 the Chief ’s annual Christmas turkey giveaway raffle. Of course, the phone call was not really from the Chief ’s office or the Chief ’s secretary. Len did show up at the appointed time in the Chief ’s office to claim his turkey only to learn he had been had once again.
You will be missed, Len.
Robert Sparks
December 9, 2013, marked a first for the Phoenix Police Department. With heartfelt thanks to Chief Garcia and his staff, and with accolades to organizer Sergeant Jamie Rothschild of the Black Mountain Precinct, we were able to honor a retired Phoenix police officer.
Robert Harry Sparks, #3186, joined the Phoenix Police Department on July 26, 1976. He eventually promoted to the rank of lieutenant and his last assignment was Squaw Peak Precinct, now called Mountain View. Bob served with pride and integrity and retired after about 35 years of service. Bob didn’t stay retired long before he accepted employment at the Arizona Motor Vehicle Services department as chief of enforcement. Bob also stayed on the Department as a reserve officer, R1043, where he was assigned to the Violent Crimes Bureau’s Robbery Unit.
Bob had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was put on hospice care at home in early December 2013. Bob was married to Shelly Locarni, daughter of Phoenix Police Officer Jack Locarni, and Bob has two daughters and a 95-year-old mother. Besides immediate family, Bob has many, many brothers and sisters among his fellow Phoenix police officers.
An idea was born, with the help of Sergeant Rothschild, Sergeant Phil Roberts, and several other officers, to pay tribute to Bob and have him see how much he was loved and respected while he could still appreciate it. Paying tribute to Bob now, they realized, would not only be a great memory for him, but would be a comfort to his family. Word spread among officers and through our retiree social network on Facebook. Plans were made and with the help of the Department, a procession was formed to drive in front of Bob’s home. Thirty-seven motors and 40 marked units drove by as Bob stood and saluted. Bob was very weak but very determined to stand and salute the officers who had come to show him love and respect; to show him that his life as a Phoenix police officer was special and worthy of recognition. Perhaps this is best summed up by the words Phil Roberts wrote on our retiree Facebook group:
An incredibly loving tribute to a friend. This morning the Department which Robert Sparks loved so much had the honor of loving him back. Dressed in full police uniform, Bob Sparks watched as a motorcycle and patrol vehicle procession drove past his home complete with a helicopter flyover. Many of us fought to hold back tears as Bob, in a very weakened state, stood and saluted us as we saluted him. Current and retired Phoenix police officers, Mesa Police Chief Frank Milstead, Department of Public Safety and ADOT enforcement officers were all present to pay homage to our friend.
Sadly, Bob lost his battle with cancer three days after this event. Rest in peace, Bob.