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After 27 years at the Washington Police Department, Sgt. Dave Stark experienced a first two weeks ago.
Just one week before he retired, Stark apprehended William P. Hill, 27, of Laomi, only 40 minutes after he allegedly robbed PNC Bank in Morton.
“Everything just fell into place. Our dispatcher was giving out information, set up parameters and it was lucky he came by me,” Stark said.
He recognized the vehicle, a gray Buick LaSabre with no rear license plate, from eye-witness reports, at the corner of Lakeland Avenue and the Washington Blacktop. He then conducted a felony traffic stop, which reportedly occurred with no incident. Deer Creek police assisted with the arrest following the confrontation.
“That will stick in my mind for a while,” he said. “It was memorable — one last hurrah.”
After an eventful week for Stark, the Washington Police Department gave him a proper send off last Wednesday, the day he retired.
Stark was born and raised in Washington. He worked as a patrol officer in Washington for 18 years before being promoted to day shift sergeant in 2001.
Stark said he has a lot of memorable moments stored up from his 27 years in Washington.
“People think nothing happens in Washington, but they’d be surprised,” he said.
He has now put aside catching bank robbers and is focusing instead on catching up and catching fish.
“I’ve got a list of things to do from my wife, things I’ve started but haven’t had time to finish. I’ll also do some fishing,” said Stark who plans to stay in Washington with his wife Debbie and two of their daughters, Lori Akins and Tracie Stark. A third daughter,
Jennifer Stark, lives in Lawrenceville, Ga. The Starks have two grandsons who live in Washington.
But for the sergeant who became a police officer simply because “it just seemed the right thing to do, to give back to the community,” retirement will be “bittersweet.”
“I’m going to miss police work. I will miss working with the guys here and the guys in other communities,” he said. “I’ve made some good friends.”
Washington Chief of Police James Kuchenbecker said Stark will be greatly missed at the department.
“I am indeed fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve with Sgt. Stark, if even for a short amount of time, and I feel that I have been the silent recipient of his untiring efforts.”
After 27 years at the Washington Police Department, Sgt. Dave Stark experienced a first two weeks ago.
Just one week before he retired, Stark apprehended William P. Hill, 27, of Laomi, only 40 minutes after he allegedly robbed PNC Bank in Morton.
“Everything just fell into place. Our dispatcher was giving out information, set up parameters and it was lucky he came by me,” Stark said.
He recognized the vehicle, a gray Buick LaSabre with no rear license plate, from eye-witness reports, at the corner of Lakeland Avenue and the Washington Blacktop. He then conducted a felony traffic stop, which reportedly occurred with no incident. Deer Creek police assisted with the arrest following the confrontation.
“That will stick in my mind for a while,” he said. “It was memorable — one last hurrah.”
After an eventful week for Stark, the Washington Police Department gave him a proper send off last Wednesday, the day he retired.
Stark was born and raised in Washington. He worked as a patrol officer in Washington for 18 years before being promoted to day shift sergeant in 2001.
Stark said he has a lot of memorable moments stored up from his 27 years in Washington.
“People think nothing happens in Washington, but they’d be surprised,” he said.
He has now put aside catching bank robbers and is focusing instead on catching up and catching fish.
“I’ve got a list of things to do from my wife, things I’ve started but haven’t had time to finish. I’ll also do some fishing,” said Stark who plans to stay in Washington with his wife Debbie and two of their daughters, Lori Akins and Tracie Stark. A third daughter,
Jennifer Stark, lives in Lawrenceville, Ga. The Starks have two grandsons who live in Washington.
But for the sergeant who became a police officer simply because “it just seemed the right thing to do, to give back to the community,” retirement will be “bittersweet.”
“I’m going to miss police work. I will miss working with the guys here and the guys in other communities,” he said. “I’ve made some good friends.”
Washington Chief of Police James Kuchenbecker said Stark will be greatly missed at the department.
“I am indeed fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve with Sgt. Stark, if even for a short amount of time, and I feel that I have been the silent recipient of his untiring efforts.”
