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Rudolph is approaching end of his careerliving in the area. member of the American Legion, cility on Glenwood Avenue in 1981St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Me- “That was one of the best investments the city of Napoleon everBy KAREN ARNOSStaff WriterNAPOLEON — He has been everything from a railroad worker to a salesman, but he is most well known as Napoleon’s chief of police.On Dec. 31, 1984, a 30-year career in law enforcement will come to a close when Chief Richard Rudolph retires.Although he admits he will miss some aspects of the job, “I’m getting out while my health is good andI can still enjoy it,” the 52-year-old Rudolph explained.Rudolph grew up in McClure, where he attended Westhope Elementary School. After his freshman year at McClure High School, his family moved to Liberty Center where Rudolph finished high school.After graduation, he entered themilitary and served with the military police.When he returned home to HenryCounty, Rudolph’s civilian life involved “one job after another.”He did a little of everything — section gang worker on a railroad, 7-Up salesman, punch press and sheer operator, steel product andconstruction worker. He finally went to work for Campbell Soup and became a foreman but was laid off in 1954.The company found him a construction job with General Motors, but he was laid off from there the following year.So when Rudolph heard about an opening in the Henry County sheriff’s department, he applied and was hired as a deputy in February 1955.“I’ve been at it ever since,” smiled Rudolph, who lives at Route 2 with his wife, Carole, and daughter, Lisa, a 1964 graduate of Napoleon High School.In December 1957, he joined the Napoleon city police department as a patrolman, advancing to sergeant six years later. In November 1970, Rudolph was appointed chief, a position he took over with mixed feelings.“I enjoyed the road work,” Rudolph explained, “so I pondered thesituation a great deal before becoming chief. But it was a challenge, and I enjoyed it,” except perhaps for the paperwork, he laughed.But he has enjoyed working and“The city has been blessed with good administration,” he said. “I had good people to work for,” he added, citing the city manager and council members.And now that he is retiring, Rudolph plans to remain here. “I wouldn’t give up our four seasons,” he laughed. “I’m rooted in the county. It’s home.”He plans to make use of his free time by pursuing his favorite hobby — woodworking — and also by spending more time with his family.Although he admitted that the concerns of the police department will go with him, he doesn’t plan to become addicted to listening to thescanner.“I hope my successor has asmuch cooperation as I’ve realized in the past,” Rudolph said. “I’mlooking forward to a smooth tran sition.”Tests for the position will be given Nov. 28, and a new chief will be named probably in early December.In looking back over his years in law enforcement, Rudolph — aClure, Ohio Chiefs’ Association. In ternational Chiefs’ Association and past president of the Ohio Law Enforcement Association — said his favorite part of the job was “being able to help people“To see that glint of thanks in a person’s eye. That has been the reward. The unspoken words of appreciation You know it’s there, and that makes the job worthwhile,” even though he admits those instances aren’t all that abundant.But “you get a good feeling from a job well done,” he added.Rudolph sees the officer’s job as “enforcing the laws fairly and impartially.” He also has kept close tabs on his officers and practiced an “open-door policy” as chief by encouraging them to bring their gripes or suggestions to his attention.The force currently has 13 sworn officers, including Rudolph, plus four dispatchers.“We grow as the city grows,” he noted.During Rudolph’s administration, the department moved from its office on Main Street into a fa-made,” Rudolph said.Rudolph, an admitted conservative, remembers his most enjoyable years in law enforcement as being in the 1950s and early 1960s.That was when “respect for the criminal justice system was still intact. Officers carried more weight than they do now. The system was less complicated.”Rudolph attributes the shift away from that attitude to a liberal Su preme Court led by Earl Warren. “1 think we’re headed back to a more conservative view,” though, he added.Today, he sees the criminal justice system as making it easy for the criminal to postpone or get around punishment. “Guidelines today are for the defendant.”Rudolph feels a person should be held accountable for his or her actions. “It’s hard to perceive the con cept that society is to blame for people’s woes,” he added.For'example, he cited the fact that many people lived through the hard times of the Depression and still remained law abiding citizens.
Newspaper Details
Defiance Marketeer
Defiance, Ohio, US
Tue, Nov 13, 1984
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 31 Aug 2021
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