Schmidt retires after 22 years with HPD years ago
Staff writer
After nearly 22 years, Jerry Schmidt has retired from the Hillsboro Police Department.
"My recent heart attack made me decide to retire," Schmidt said. "I have to live with that — it is a fact of life."
A Goessel-born native, Schmidt grew up in Hillsboro and graduated from high school in 1959.
A year after graduation, he stayed around the area and worked for the Vogt brothers at the IGA grocery store.
In 1960, he joined the Army and served 20 years.
"I didn't know what I was going to do," Schmidt said. "I met the late Jim Knak, who was a military man, too, and he suggested I apply to become a policeman in Hillsboro."
"I had never thought of being a policeman until then."
So, in May of 1980, Schmidt filled out an application, and on Aug. 15, 1980, he was hired as a ful-time police officer and moved his family to Hillsboro.
He received his training at the Kansas Law Enforcement Academy located outside of Yoder. Schmidt had to learn the laws and the administrative procedures and take classes in shooting a firearm, self defense, search and seizure, patrol procedures, and first aid and CPR.
Schmidt explained the humble beginnings of Hillsboro's police department.
"We had a three-man department," he said. "One car, one desk, one file cabinet, and we each got one drawer in the desk."
According to Schmidt the department has moved six times. Four or five times in the city hall building until the department moved to the South Main location. They now are housed in the old AMPI building.
"Their office is real nice, and they have lots of room," Schmidt said smiling.
Another change Schmidt has noticed through the years was the amount of paperwork that police officers have to do.
Also, Schmidt said the increase of activity picked up during the early 1990s.
"We had no major activity when I first came here," he said. "We would have a break-in once a month or so. But in the early 1990s activities picked up — drugs and gang activity increased."
Schmidt also pointed out that early in his career, he knew almost everyone in town. But as the town grew and people were moving in and out and not staying long, it was hard to get to know everyone.
"It used to be if you said someone's name, I could tell you where they lived, but now I don't know everyone in town — signs of progress I guess," Schmidt said.
Police officers must take 40 hours of continuing education classes a year to be certified.
They must also undergo mandatory qualifying of their weapons. Schmidt said that they practice on a range in Hillsboro that was built in 1994. The range is located behind the sewer ponds and is not open to the public.
Schmidt said one of the rewards or positive things about police work are the people.
"Especially the troubled kids who later on change," Schmidt said. "You talk to them, and you find that you gave them a second chance."
"I didn't realize I had done anything until they came back to thank me."
On the unpleasant or negative side, Schmidt said doing welfare checks was not so good. Schmidt explained that a welfare check is when an officer goes into a home to investigate why someone does not answer the phone and someone calls about a concern of a particular individual.
"You never know if you will find someone dead or not," Schmidt said.
Also Schmidt said answering a domestic dispute call can be a little scary.
"You never know what condition the offender will be in," he said.
When asked what legacy he would like to leave, Schmidt said that he wanted people to know that he was fair in his dealing with people. Even though his demeanor may appear to have been gruff, strong and tough, he is really not like that at all.
"I really like people, and I like talking to them," Schmidt said, "because you learn a lot about people by just talking to them."
Schmidt plans to stay on the force as a reserve. He will only be required to attend some local classes to work as a reserve police officer.
But for right now in his retirement, Schmidt said he is doing dishes, housework and helping his wife Tootsie work on her limestone rock carving projects.
He also plans to do more fishing and go to "lots of ball games especially high school basketball, baseball, and football."
In the next few months, Schmidt said he plans to look for part-time work.
"I have too much energy to just sit around," he said.
