Community services officer named top cop

by PAUL MORTON

Associate editor

"Nine thirty, could you look into an abandoned bike behind the Gasholder building. And on your way there's a complaint about some 34s at the library. And there's a 70 running loose on Groveland."

The translation of that typical police dispatch call would be, "Community services officer Henry Wallace, we have a report of an abandoned bike. There's also a complaint of juveniles causing problems at the library. And there's a dog running loose on Groveland."

These, and other calls just like it, are a big part of Wallace's day and a big part of the reason he was given the Officer of the Year Award Wednesday by the Oberlin Exchange Club.

Police chief Tom Miller said the club asks him to name an officer for the award each year. He said nominations are made and voted on at a meeting of police department staff, and this year the support of Wallace was "overwhelming."

"He's dedicated, he's conscientious, he does anything you ask him," Miller said. "He makes it easier for everyone here, because he assumes a lot of the responsibilities that nobody else wants to do."

Wallace said he started with the department as an unpaid auxiliary police officer on May 1, 1984. He continued to serve with distinction and without pay until April, 2002, when city council approved a police department request to pay auxiliary officers.

Miller said Wallace frequently goes above and beyond what might normally be expected. He said in the staff meeting, one dispatcher was particularly supportive of Wallace's nomination.

"She said to me, 'Chief, I'd been working and the electricity went out in the city, and people were calling me, I was constantly on the phone,'" Miller said. "'Then the next thing I know, Henry's in the back answering the phone. He just came in from home because he knew I'd be swamped.'"

In 2006, the position of community services officer was created for Wallace to handle abandoned bikes, dogs running at large, and other such calls, to free other officers to do more critical police work. Miller said the arrangement has worked, perhaps too well.

"The only problem I have with Henry is he makes some of my other officers lazy," Miller said. "They just rely on Henry to do it, and they know it will get done."

Wallace said he has lived in town 42 years, so he knows almost everyone who has been in town for any length of time. And he knows their children and grandchildren, too, and maybe their dogs.

"My whole thing is to help people," Wallace said. "This is why I got into this. I didn't get into this for the money. I spent the first 18 years without any pay. I just had a position that allowed me to help people in Oberlin."

But make no mistake, Wallace is also interested in enforcing the law and seeing that people know what the law is.

One day recently he issued a warning to someone riding a bicycle downtown. After the violator was free to go, Wallace radioed to the station, asking that the general maintenance division repaint the faded signs on the sidewalk warning against riding on the sidewalk.

Miller said Wallace's attitude toward his job endears him to the community.

"He's like a goodwill ambassador for the city," Miller said. "Even though he's known for his enforcement of parking and bicycle riding, he's able to do that and still maintain a good rapport with the community. We're just lucky to have him. And I've told him he's not allowed to retire until after I retire."

Wallace received his award at the Exchange Club's annual awards dinner Wednesday, Oct. 21. Miller said the club has given the award six years now.

"I'd like to publicly thank the Exchange Club," Miller said. "I very much enjoy the opportunity to publicly recognize one of my employees, and the Exchange Club affords me the opportunity to do that."