Village of Holland Police Chief Bob Reed is retiring after serving as chief for the past 17 years. In honor of the chief, the village hosted a retirement luncheon November 29. “Chief Reed has been with us for many, many years and is the longest serving police chief in the village,” said Mayor Lee Irons, adding, “We wish you a well-deserved retirement.”
Lieutenant James Piotrowski, who will assume the chief’s duties until a replacement is named, recalled when he first started in 2007 at the convincing of the chief. The department was housed in what is now council chambers where the luncheon was held. “The police building and squad have expanded all because of the chief,” he said. “I can’t say enough about him. He changed my life for the better. Thank you for everything you have done. I wish you the absolute best.”
The chief was presented with a proclamation from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost who commended the chief for “his outstanding career in law enforcement.” He noted that “law enforcement is fundamental to preserving the quality of life, security and prosperity of our communities, and those who serve that mission deserve support, respect and gratitude.”
Chief Reed began his career in law enforcement with the Gibsonburg police in 1982 before joining Holland in 1999. In that same year he joined the fire department. As a firefighter, he rose through the ranks becoming assistant chief until the department disbanded in 2005.
At the police department, he was promoted to sergeant one year after joining and became chief in 2006. During his first two years he was committed to the design and construction of the new police department which opened in 2008.
He also worked to bring unity and a better culture to the department, following the death of the previous police chief to suicide.
“When I took over, morale was low and I had to make changes,” he recalled.
The chief helped modernize the department from a book of regulations to a computerized system through Lexipol, which updates changes in the law annually to keep the department current.
Chief Reed acknowledged he will miss the people he has worked with over the years.
There are some aspects of the job he won’t miss, particularly tragedies, one of the worst of which occurred on the railroad tracks before the underpass was constructed.
Two Springfield students on their way to school attempted to cross the tracks after a train passed, not realizing another train was coming from the other direction. One was killed and the other lost a leg in the accident, he said. “That was traumatic.”
As for future plans, the chief hasn’t thought beyond a few weeks, planning to take a vacation to visit friends in Louisiana.
The retirement concluded with police dispatch delivering a final call in recognition of Chief Reed.
