Attached is a list of Police and Fire retirees that have passed this year courtesy of retired Lt. Gary Johnson.
May they rest in peace.
Thank you,
Ernie Alcantar
PBA President
Attached is a list of Police and Fire retirees that have passed this year courtesy of retired Lt. Gary Johnson.
May they rest in peace.
Thank you,
Ernie Alcantar
PBA President
I first met (Sgt) Bob Allen in 1964 When he was the Firearms Instructor for the SJC College Law Enforcement program. He always seemed to have a mischievous smile on his face. I would soon find out that was an accurate recognition. I joined the National Rifle Association at age 12 and did a lot of recreational shooting in the basement firing range of San Luis Obispo City’s office building. Consequently I was a pretty good shot. During one of the training sessions, torward the end of the term, either I challenged him, or he challenged me, to a five shot from the hip contest. We each loaded five wad-cutters. (That was 60 years ago so they may not even be called that today). To prepare for the shoot off, we turned our new targets around and put one piece of target repair tape, about 1 in square, center. Drew at the same time, and rapidly fired all five shots each.
I’m not going to tell you who won the contest, because that’s not the point ofthe story. As we walked up to check on our shoots, both of us had pretty close patterns. The one thing that was different, Bob’s target, when examined closely proved to have six bullet holes. I rest my case on “mischievous“.
During my time on the department, 1965 to 1973, there was a lot of back-and-forth mischief between patrol officers and brass. There is another great story about (Sgt) Allen’s with “Super Chicken”, but let someone tell it.
I greatly respected Assistant Chief Allen, for many reasons. He was very diligent as the beat sergeant, very fair in his criticisms, and generous with his compliments. Probably the main reason I liked him was, if I had thought of it, I would’ve probably added the extra bullet for the contest mentioned earlier.
Rest in peace, Sarge
Bruce Hodgin, Badge # 33, and yes, for all you youngsters, there was a time when badge numbers only had two digits.
I first met (Sgt) Bob Allen in 1964 When he was the Firearms Instructor for the SJC College Law Enforcement program. He always seemed to have a mischievous smile on his face. I would soon find out that was an accurate recognition. I joined the National Rifle Association at age 12 and did a lot of recreational shooting in the basement firing range of San Luis Obispo City’s office building. Consequently I was a pretty good shot. During one of the training sessions, torward the end of the term, either I challenged him, or he challenged me, to a five shot from the hip contest. We each loaded five wad-cutters. (That was 60 years ago so they may not even be called that today). To prepare for the shoot off, we turned our new targets around and put one piece of target repair tape, about 1 in square, center. Drew at the same time, and rapidly fired all five shots each.
I’m not going to tell you who won the contest, because that’s not the point ofthe story. As we walked up to check on our shoots, both of us had pretty close patterns. The one thing that was different, Bob’s target, when examined closely proved to have six bullet holes. I rest my case on “mischievous“.
During my time on the department, 1965 to 1973, there was a lot of back-and-forth mischief between patrol officers and brass. There is another great story about (Sgt) Allen’s with “Super Chicken”, but let someone tell it.
I greatly respected Assistant Chief Allen, for many reasons. He was very diligent as the beat sergeant, very fair in his criticisms, and generous with his compliments. Probably the main reason I liked him was, if I had thought of it, I would’ve probably added the extra bullet for the contest mentioned earlier.
Rest in peace, Sarge
Bruce Hodgin, Badge # 33
Bob was a great cop with real sense of humor. Rest in peace Chief.
Ed Conway. #54 \ 1356
When I came on the job in 1968, there was a TV show:Car 54 where are you? My badge # caused a lot of ribbing. I was happy to turn it in four digits.
Remembering. Memories are everything. Learning Bob had died; Bill Mallett as well; along with remembrances from Bruce and Ed brought thoughts about our pasts.
Like Bruce, I met Bob at SJCC. He was the firearms instructor using the indoor range in Santa Clara and taught a class about traffic accident Investigation at SJCC. Both he took seriously, but with a wit that kept everyone interested and chuckling.
I recalled an officer involved vehicle accident on Jackson north of Story. It was mine to investigate and Bob was the Supervisor who also responded. As the scene was cleaned up, he asked to see me at the station so he could look over the report. When I met him there, he looked over the report with diagram, made one minor suggestion, then handed it back to me. “Nice work” or “Nice Job” were his comments. Bob was considered an expert traffic accident investigator so; he had given me something that lifted my spirits especially since the accident involved an officer that was a friend.
Bob was the Midnight Shift Commander. Bob Wirth and I were partners working the Storybook area (B-15). We received a call of a large party on a residential area, southeast of Story and King. We and another unit arrived and were met with bottles, rocks and whatever items being thrown from the rear yard on to the front yard, street, patrol cars and us. It was a corner lot, so Bob W took the street side yard and I took the side yard between the houses. I reached the corner of the house and saw four or five males still throwing “things” over the house toward the street. I could hear Bob W trying to open a side yard gate. A male next to the gate that Bob W was trying to open was holding a small, metallic, automatic pistol in his right hand. Immediately, I yelled to Bob W warning him there was a gun (For a small guy, 5-9, 180, I was known for having a loud, deep voice… when needed.) My warning prompted every male in the rear yard to run into the house and close the rear door. Eventually, 30 plus arrests were made, mostly under 18 and the gun was not located. Bob had responded and learned what had occurred. He wanted a full report from myself and Bob W. Returning from our days off, Bob called us into his office and updated us on what had occurred. Seems the IA complaints went throughout the city from the Council, Mayor and into community groups. Bob W and I were on our three days off and did not receive any calls. Bob explained that he had stood by us and our actions, We thanked him for the support. From my experience, being upfront with him, you received that back.
Past years, got to know Bob and Judi through IPA functions. Even more impressed knowing them. Bob was a real person and someone who I appreciated in my life.
Roger Princevalle
#18, #121, #1279
*Received my first badge, #18, from the top drawer of the secretary’s desk in the Uniform Division Chief’s Office. There were six of us hired at the same time. The draw was a mess. Like a kitchen utility drawer. The first badge found in the junk was yours. Four months later, the Army wanted me and had to turn in the badge and ID card. Upon returning, I walked into the chief’s office and a Captain wanted me on his shift, then asked which badge I had. I told him; He looked in the same messy drawer and could not find my badge. However, he did find my identification card in the same drawer. Frustrated, he grabbed a badge and said this your number, #121. Three years later, the department went to four digits. Badge #18? While away, someone got hired, Leroy Widman, who was handed a badge by unknown person from the same messy utility drawer. We became friends and even worked as partners… many times laughing about what occurs.
Fond memories, Roger. Thank for sharing.
L