Chief of Police Mike Ward: Thoughts of a good man in a tough job at his retirement
There was a simple eloquence in his words as Du Quoin Chief of Police Mike Ward spoke to the city council and to the people of Du Quoin during Monday's meeting at city hall.
Chief Ward retires next week after a 30-year career in law enforcement--all in Du Quoin.
"It's hard to believe 30 years have passed since I became a police officer. Like many of the young people in the early 1980s, I wasn't sure where my job search would leave me. The Du Quoin Police and fire Merit Board placed me No. 1 on their eligibility list. When a position opened and a job offer was made, I accepted and here I am today retiring. I sometimes wonder what those three gentlemen saw in me, but whatever it was, I sure appreciate it. Those three men were Maurice (Babe) Hill, John Ingram and Dr. Freddie Banks.
"Working in law enforcement has its ups and downs like any other professions. We acquire new friends and sometimes lose old ones. The joy usually outweighs the sadness, although you get large doses of both. The ups, for example, include finding a lost child, helping an elderly person off the floor, helping the needy have a nice Christmas and maybe even saving a life. The downs include handling a traffic or any fatality, delivering a death message or experiencing the death of a fellow city employee.
Overall, this has been a great 30 years. I am thankful for those who helped put me in this position, which include Mayor Robert Armstrong, Mayor John Rednour and the past and present Du Quoin City Council members. I also want to thank those whom I worked with and learned so much from, Gary Darnell and Jim Booker, and those I presently work with, too many to mention. While I am handing out my thanks, I also want to recognize my wife Judy, who has put up with me for nearly 29 years of those 30 years and my children Micah and Ashley. I admit, many times I was hard to get along with. Also, my mom, Myrtle Randolph, for sacrificing everything for me and my sisters, Evelyn, Kathy and Zena, to see that we always had clothes on our back, a roof over our head, and food in our stomaches, sometimes working two and three jobs to do this. I thank the citizens of Du Quoin who accepted me and made by job easier. Most of all, I give thanks to the Lord for choosing me for this occupation, although being human, I sometimes doubted myself.
"In stepping down, I feel blessed that I actually had a job which I still enjoy. I leave with no hard feelings and confidence that the department and law enforcement will continue to improve. I am leaving the department in good hands to Jamie Ellermeyer. To the administration and council, please stand behind these men and women. They are a great group of employees and deserve your support.
"To Judy, Micah, Ashley, mom and my two new granddaughters, Alexa and Aleya, watch out, you are going to get tired of seeing me around and listening to me gripe.
"Thank you all for 30 years. For my fellow men in blue, may God protect you and keep you safe as he has me. Thank you and God bless you all."
Mayor Rex Duncan told Ward and the council that we often never relish change, "But change happens and sometimes you get to celebrate with a man who was able to retire safely."
One-by-one, city council members, took time to personally thank Mike Ward for a job well done.