Former Police Chief George Malec remembered

Retired Willoughby Hills Police Chief George Malec died in the early morning hours of May 11. He was 86.

“I was the last full-time officer that George hired before he retired, so when I found out he passed, it really brought me back a lot,” said Matthew Naegele, the current police chief. “He gave me my first real opportunity in law enforcement. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today had it not been for Chief Malec.”

Malec served Willoughby Hills from 1965 to 2000 as a patrolman, sergeant and then his last

“He identified himself as family, father, husband, grandfather and seeing that happiness on him, it made me reflect on what the important things really are.” — Matthew Naegele, the current police chief

13 years as chief, according to the department. In the early days of his career, Malec drove the ambulance on the night shift, which was just a station wagon back then.

The city, as well as the police department, went through a massive transition over the course of Malec’s 34 years on the job, according to the department. Malec saw through Willoughby Hills’ transition from a small country town to a bustling suburb.

Naegele said having just been promoted to chief and then finding out the chief who hired him 22 years ago just died has given him a sense of gratefulness. In carrying the police department forward, Naegele hopes he can carry the torch from Malec and retired Chief Christopher Collins, he said.

“I was at the funeral services and it really struck me because I was looking at all the photographs of him with his family, post retirement, and he genuinely looked like a very happy guy,” Naegele said.

“It made me reflect on what you identify with. A lot of people in law enforcement or jobs in general identify themselves with what they do for a living. I think George was independent of that.

“He identified himself as family, father, husband, grandfather and seeing that happiness on him, it made me reflect on what the important things really are.”

Malec