The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Longtime police officer to retire
Police officer retires after 30 years with department
Retiring Willoughby Hills Police Officer Craig Anderson sits in the police station a week before his retirement and recalls watching all the cop TV shows when he was younger.
He wanted to be a police officer since he was about 12 years old.
At that time, he didn’t know why he wanted to be an officer, he just knew that’s what he wanted to do.
Not only was he successful in getting into his desired occupation, but he made a lifetime career of it. Anderson who has spent 38 years in law enforcement will officially retire on Feb. 20.
He started off his law enforcement career with the Madison Police Department’s Explorer Program. He spent four years with the program during high school.
Immediately after high school, in 1981 at the age of 19 he became an auxiliary officer with the Perry Village Police.
In 1985, he graduated from the Ohio Basic Police Officer Training Academy, sponsored by the Ohio Highway Patrol.
Also in that same year he started as a part-time police officer with Madison and Perry village police departments. It was at that time that he knew he made the right career decision and just needed to find the place to start out.
He would go on to hold multiple other part-time positions over the next nine years while he searched for where he belonged and where he thought he was best suited for.
Other part-time positions included armed security officer for Lake Hospital Systems and police officer for Mayfield Village.
In 1989, he was hired on by the Willoughby Hills Police Department as a part time-officer.
He would remain in that role for approximately five years. In 1994, he took the required tests and was hired on by that department as a full-time officer, a position that he has held for 30 years.
He was assigned to special assignments such as motor vehicle crash re-constructionist, field training officer and community education officer.
He also managed the speed measurement equipment for the department along with the breath machines used on possible impaired drivers.
During the course of his 30 years with the department, Anderson was lead investigator on serious/fatal crashes.
He was also responsible for the purchase of a crash data retrieval system that is used throughout Northeast Ohio and the purchase of a laser measuring device used to map crash and crime scenes.
“The system came around and I put a purchase order in for it and we got it,” Anderson said of the data retrieval system. “I went to school for it. We used that to help with accident investigations.”
When asked about some of his accomplishments during his career, Anderson simply said, “I came to work. I did my job. I don’t think I had any real major accomplishments.”
What Anderson loved most about his job was the ability to help people. He believes that’s what it’s all about.
Police Chief Chris Collins said the department will miss Anderson, but they are happy for him.
“Retirement is a bittersweet time. We’re all very happy for Craig and his family and wish them all the best,” Collins said.
“Craig is a fine officer who will be missed at least for a bit. We’re excited Craig has asked to stay on parttime returning to WHPD sometime in early summer.