BEAT TO THE BENCH BY CHIEF ROBERT KISH
Today, as I type this article, all Marines, both current active duty and inactive, celebrate the 234th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. As you know, tomorrow is Veteran’s Day, when all branches of the service are honored for their service to our country. At this time, the only Marine on the department is myself as I served from ’72-’75 in Camp Smith, Hawaii and Camp LeJeune, N.C. as a Military Policeman. When I first started, my sergeant was Charlie Grisel, who served as a Marine in Viet Nam. Charlie went on to serve over 27 years to the city as a police sergeant after his time in the Marines.
Our detective, Steven Davis, is a proud veteran of the Cold-War era in Germany , as he served in the US Army as a Military Policeman with distinction. He was also involved in the protection of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds with the 523 MP Company. Army veteran , Detective Aaron Bolton , also served in Germany from ’95-98. Sgt Chris Hartung served many roles in the Army National Guard as a Military Policeman. He participated in control of the riots at Lucasville Prison, served overseas tours and was activated after Sept 11th with MP’s at Ft Bragg, NC.
Dan Shupe is our representative from the US Air Force and was involved in the protection of high level assets stateside. He currently is assigned to the patrol division and is the department computer crimes specialist.
We have three officers still serving in a reserve capacity. Officer Craig Howell is a US Army veteran and recently went into the US Navy Reserve. He was just activated and is currently aboard the USS New York providing security in her maiden voyage to New York City. This is the ship John Vargo spoke of in the recent September 11th ceremony in Vermilion. The ship was constructed with steel from the World Trade Center and holds special significance citizens to the city, so that is why it made it’s initial stop in the NY harbor.
Officer David Jones still serves as a Motor Sergeant in the Army National Guard. He has served for nine years and was involved with Operation Noble Eagle after September 11th. He has been activated for Hurricane Katrina and several other major events.
Our third reservist is Officer Mike Fink, who has been with the US Coast Guard Reserve Port Security unit for over ten years. He first served in the middle east after the USS Cole was bombed, then served during the invasion of Iraq and has recently returned from another Iraq deployment earlier this year.
Another Iraq war vet on our department is Officer Dale Reising. Dale started as a police explorer/Eagle scout, then went into the US Army where he was driving in truck convoys in hazardous areas. He returned from war to attend LCCC Police Academy. He served as a Lorain County deputy until the recent lay-offs, but has been a tremendous asset to our agency as a part time dispatcher/patrol officer.
If you see or know any of these vets, please thank them for their service.