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Reasons Of HealthBy JACK WALLACE TIMES Staff WriterThe retirement of Fayetteville Chief of Police Hollis Spencer was announced today by Spencer and Fayetteville City Manager Donald Grimes. Spencer is retiring from the post for healthreasons.Grimes said the retirement would not be effective for several weeks, until Spencer has used all of his accumulated vacation time and sick leave. “For all practical purposes, though Chief Spencer’s retirement is effective immediately and I am appointing Assistant Chief Glen Riggins as Acting Chief.**“There is not a finer chief in the world, as far as I’m concerned,” Grimes said this morning. “I hate to lose him because he’s been a fine, fine chief and an able public servant for many years.“Hollis (Spencer) has built probably the finest police department in the state during his term in office and I, personally, will miss him greatly.”Spencer, 52, said his retirement came on the advice of bis doctor, due to a diabetic condition often aggravated by the tensions and responsibilities of the office. Spencer was only recently released from the hospital after undergoing treatment for the condition.Spencer became chief of police on March 1, 1962 and took command of a department with 22 employes housed in a converted garage, just east of the present building.The department now has 45 employes.Spencer’s career in law enforcement began in May of 1953, when he joined the Fayetteville Police Department as a radio dispatcher. In June of 1953, he was promoted to patrolman and served in that capacity for about three years.On June 1, 1956, Spcncer resigned from the department to run for the position of Washington County Sheriff in the November elections. He won the election — and two later elections — and served as Sheriff until March 1, 1962, when he accepted the position of chief of police.Prior to joining the force in1953, Spencer worked as a part time fireman and a parking meter repairman for the city for about three and one-halfyears.Spencer is a 1939 graduate of Elkins High School and has, durmg the course of his career, attended many law enforcement schools and seminars.In 1965, Spcncer was appointed to the Commission of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy at Camden. At present, he remains on the commission and has been chairman for the past two years.Spencer also served on the executive board of directors of the Arkansas Commission on Crime and Law Enforcement from 1968 until early 1975. He was appointed to the post by the late Winthrop Rockefeller, then Governor of Arkansas. Spencer assisted in the planning and construction of the commission before it came into existence.In 1973, Spencer served as president of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Officers Association and still holds a position on the board of directors of that organization.-v»yJM MiWi wii lt;Millw i iiln Jyilt i lilW!i Wi iWJMlW1*^ nilfclt;•;.; :;;yKv::^:llt;x;g» » - . • »‘* • * ••»/** \V,V/,V,mmy/.yIn addition, Spencer hasserved on the executive boardof directors of the Municipal Police Association, is a member of the Arkansas Chiefs of PoliceAssociation and was elected to the post of secretary-treasurer of the organization and has twice served as president of the Northwest Arkansas Peace Officers Association.Spencer said that since taking office in 1962, he has .served under two forms of government — mayor-council and city manager — and has received tremendous cooperation from both.Spencer sees the major problem confronting law enforcement today as the rapidly changing times. “Trying to keep myself and the department informed, up to date and oriented with the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court.”Spencer said his biggest accomplishment has been “to have had a part in putting together the finest group of policemen I’ve ever been associated with and putting together this department. The cooperation among the men makes everything worthwhile.”(TTMESphoto By Gene Jonas)HOLLIS SPENCER.career began in 1953■•y-,• M • • I . » •. » • *J* /* • • * • \• .V lt;P. v{ . V.lt;wttfcySAy*Ay VX'X // *!*. v -*: VI,• » * • , /it r . • r. « * ■ .• • r/ *14 » * 4 • f k 4 • • * * •T* •r ^ • • • • • . jl w •::: * lt;’* •: Vi#*-* . /.% . *vvXy. y. *vv • * • «!* * »» » / I » • • ♦ •L’T'Or* lt;• * r» •» » » » * • * J *7 • ‘ • J -.■ *.vvr . lt;. • *T.**•.W V..V/A /y, v' v ■ . V
Newspaper Details
Northwest Arkansas Times
Fayetteville, Arkansas, US
Mon, Jun 02, 1975
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 25 May 2020
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