He is not just a man; he is a Grade A Warrior. Meet Sgt. Ronald A. Wilhoit. He has been a police warrior for 45 years. For twenty-one, he held the position of Security Police in the United States Air Force, complete with service in Viet Nam. He returned home to people spitting on him for his service in the name of this country. He did not become bitter from that experience. If anything, he became more determined to be a good officer who worked hard to protect and help those in his district.
Retiring from the air force, he became a policeman in a large city. In 2008, still not ready to hang up his badge, he moved to Wetumpka and joined the Eclectic Police Department.
When asked how he made the transition from a large city, where he was lieutenant over more than sixty officers and three sergeants, to the position of sergeant over a few, he spoke well of each.
“In a large city, there are more opportunities, more flexibility and more levels of experience. It is a learning process from day one. There is also more crime, as well as more people to back up an officer who calls for assistance. On the other side, there is less time to get to know the people in your district.
“Often, an officer will spend maybe ten minutes on a normal call and may or may not see that person again, even in the courtroom. Getting up close and personal with those they protect or arrest, seldom, if ever, happens.
“If pay is a problem, there are more opportunities to work part time outside the department to supplement paychecks.”
He discovered that moving to a small town, in hopes of a quieter life, brought with it a few surprises. Everyone knows everyone else, including members of the police department. Secrets do not exist for long. Police have the opportunity to know the person they sometimes must ticket or arrest. It’s hard for that not to be taken personally.
“For instance,” said Sgt. Wilhoit, “people walk in to see the Chief, which is not the norm in the city. One person may be complaining about speeding on his street. When an officer is sent to check out the complaint, more often than not, the complainer is the first one caught.”
He smiled and continued, “So, remember, when making a complaint, you should not be the first offender caught.”
Black Lives Matter is a major newsmaker in all media. I asked Sgt. Wilhoit whether the movement has seeped into the life of our small town.
“No, we don’t see that here. Maybe it’s because we all tend to know each other. If there are problems, quite often, we talk to the person or people and settle things without violence. I think a lot of that has to do with respect – from our officers and the people and how each has been taught. With my own men, I insisted that they use respect toward people on every call. For instance, if a person is pulled over for a traffic incident, my officers show respect, unless the person stopped does not show it in return.”
When asked about all small towns being looked at as ‘Mayberry’, the answer he gave a surprising answer.
“Is it so bad to be compared to a place where people all like each other and can often solve problems with the police visiting and talking things over? We can spend time with people, whether it’s stopping to say hello to someone working alongside their property or calming a person living alone who calls wanting reassurance that their home is safe. On the other hand, something that would barely be noticed in the city may become a big item in a small town.
I remembered moving back to Eclectic just over two years ago. Caught between a very ill brother, who refused to move into my home and a disabled daughter, who refused to stay overnight at his, since he used no air conditioning or heat, in desperation I called the police. Without hesitation, the officer to whom I spoke agreed to stop by my home and make certain my daughter locked doors and closed blinds before going to bed. Not too long afterward, my brother had no choice other than moving in with us and life settled down.
“How about accessibility to your police chief? Does he stand up for his officers?”
“Our chief is extremely accessible to his officers and to the public. He stands up for his officers as does the Mayor. That does not mean he will allow problems requiring discipline slide. If an officer is accused of wrongdoing, the chief, while standing with his officer, does not hesitate to discipline when needed.”
Pay in a small town will not meet that in a large city. The police department is no exception and can lead to officers rotating in and out far too often. Raising a family, in a small town or large city, is no easy thing. However, opportunities for second jobs are scarce in the towns.
The department is surprisingly up to date with officer cameras, having acquired them six years ago. More recently, night vision cameras have been added. However, replacing those cameras or computers for the cars becomes a problem on small town budgets.
“Sergeant, CNN reported this morning that the governor of Virginia restored voting rights to 62,000 felons, who have served their time and finished parole or probation. What do you think of this?”
“I think that as far as I am concerned, if a person has paid his dues and reformed, I see no reason he should not have his life back. However, that being said, it is up to our governments and our courts to make those decisions, so I will leave them to their jobs.”
With the upcoming holidays, Sgt. Wilhoit reminded me that, even in small towns, crime picks up, with stores experiencing more shoplifting and homes more break-ins. Homes, with the owners at work, are the biggest targets during the day, while businesses experience more burglaries at night.
After leaving the police department, I spoke to people in the town regarding Sergeant Wilhoit. All agreed that, aside from being an excellent policeman, he goes out of his way to assist towns people when needed. He has used his truck more than once to help move things for others. One example of going above and beyond, was when he moved loads of books from the old library to the new location.
“He interacts with kids of all ages and has their full respect,” said Deb, one of the librarians. “Overall, he is just the nicest guy and we are fortunate to have him as a policeman and a friend.”
This warrior, and all of his fellow officers at the Eclectic Police Department, proves every day that ours are the top of the line. We would put them up against anyone in honesty, kindness, helpfulness, bravery and genuine caring.
Retirement is a short two years away for the sergeant. Eclectic will lose a well-respected officer when he leaves the force. Maybe we can convince him to move a few miles up the road and become a private citizen in our sleepy little town. All agree, that would be a good thing.
I have never met a nasty policeman, even when stopped for speeding or ticketed for parking wrong. What I have found is that if I respect them, they do the same. I received a speeding ticket for over $200 and trust me, I could not afford it. But I WAS speeding and how much more would it cost to lose my sanity if I ran over someone while speeding. It was a small price. I asked the officer if I could shake his hand and thanked him for doing his job. He offered to lower the amount because I was being respectful, but I said ‘NO”, I deserved it and by golly, I paid it. Thank you to that officer again for doing his job, even when he meets people who are not grateful. Who knows how many lives he saved.
HE is a realistic idea of what all the policemen I met working as a dispatcher for over 10 years meant. I really resent the people who send negative posts about ALL police officers. THEY will help anyone who needs help…anytime, any place. WHEN have you ever seen a criminal do this? Thank GOD for our good men in BLUE…They are the very best of society; a chain of humanity we could NEVER live without. Have I known…officers who did not fit the picture ? Of course ! BUT ! Have I known 10 times the “OTHERS” who would NEVER lift a hand to help anyone but themselves ? OH YES ! Appreciate that someone will be there WHEN you need them most. A police officer may NOT be able to FIX the problem YOU created…But at least they will try. What else do you expect ?