Former Chester police officers recognized
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Two former Chester Police Officers were recently recognized for their years of service to the City of Chester. Both Harold Howie and Jack Thomas served as patrolmen for the City of Chester for many years.
Harold Howie began his career in Law Enforcement in 1960. Harold's duties at that time included shaking doors uptown (foot patrol), rolling up awnings on store fronts in addition to regular police patrol. In 1964, Harold was hired to work as a fulltime policeman and attended the Little Grassy Lake Police Academy. It appears that Harold may have been the first Chester Officer to attend the Police Academy.
In 1966 Harold left his fulltime position and joined the post office, maintaining a position as a part time officer.
In 1977, then Mayor Macieiski, appointed Harold Howie as Chief of Police. Harold served in that capacity for about 5 ½ years. Following Harold's tenure as Chief, he began work at the Chester Mental Health Center, all the while maintaining his part-time officer status. Harold finally hung up his duty belt for the last time in 2002. Harold worked as a Chester Police Officer over a span of 42 years, an incredible accomplishment. In those 42 years, Harold has served as a mentor to numerous police officers and passed on the trade to several generations of law enforcement officers.
Harold feels that a lot has changed in law enforcement over the years. When Harold began in law enforcement, they did not have 24 hour dispatching and had to rely on the telephone operator during the midnight shifts. Harold recalls when the Chester Police Department had a fleet of two police vehicles, a 1957 Chevy and a 1958 Ford. According to Harold, the Department has come a long way.
Jack Thomas began his career in Law Enforcement in the late 1970's. Jack served as a patrolman for the Chester Police Department for approximately 27years and served as a Randolph County Deputy Coroner for several years as well. Jack also indicated that both the Chester Police Department and Law Enforcement in general have come a long way from the time he started. Jack retired in 2005. Jack said that he looks back fondly on his days as a Chester Police Officer.
The members of the Chester Police Department wish to thank Harold and Jack for their years of service, mentoring, and friendship.