Post office to be named after longtime officer
U.S. Rep. Andy Levin sponsored bill for renaming
A lifelong Hazel Park resident, the late Roy E. Dickens knew how to talk to everyone from fellow residents to country star Willie Nelson.
“Roy was quite a character and he knew Willie from when he performed years ago at the State Fair,” said City Manager Ed Klobucher. “He had the most unbelievable stories.”
Dickens died at 78 in August, 2019, but soon his friends and relatives will have something new to remind them of the former city police and court officer.
Congressman Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township) announced Tuesday that the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill he sponsored designating the post office at 23200 John R Road as the Roy E. Dickens Post Office.
“Mr. Dickens was known in southeast Michigan as a public servant, community leader and a good neighbor to all,” Levin said in a statement. “He made a positive impact in the lives of those around him in many ways and is remembered fondly by so many people …”
Dickens served in the military. After he returned home from being stationed in Germany, he owned a gas station before becoming a Hazel Park police officer in 1967.
He served 30 years and retired from the department in 1995, then worked for 15 years as the court officer in Hazel Park 43rd District Court until 2010.
Hazel Park Police Chief Brian Buchholz joined the department after Dickens left. Still, Buchholz heard about the former officer.
“When you are in police work people will always ask you if you know a certain officer,” Buchholz said. “I was asked about Dickens more than any other officer. Everybody in the city knew Roy Dickens. He was a very friendly guy and just had an ability to establish a rapport with everyone it seemed.”
Dickens is survived by his wife, Marilyn, and children Gina and David.
The family members released a statement jointly about the local post office being named after Dickens.
“As his family, we are so grateful and appreciative that this designation of the post office is in his honor,” their statement said. “He was a great husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, son, brother, uncle and resident of Hazel Park who is greatly missed by his family and all that knew him.”
Klobucher said Dickens was the longest serving employee in the city’s history. By the time he retired from his court officer job following his years as a police officer he had put in 43 years on the job.
Dickens had the gift of gab and a ready supply of colorful stories from his years as a police officer, the city manager recalled.
“He was a nice guy, and he had a long career dedicated to public service and keeping Hazel Park safe,” Klobucher said.