Paul Petersen:
CLASS OF 1968
Horlick High SchoolClass of 1968
Racine, WI
Paul's Story
Life
I haven't given a great deal of thought to my high school years for quite some time. There have always been other priorities. I am now retired and even though I remain busy, I have a little more disposable time. The recent class reunion announcement piqued my curiosity - I have always enjoyed a good mystery!
After finding the classmates web-site I pulled out the old Polaris and looked around for names, bios, and stories...just like you are doing now!
So here's what I did with my "vacation": After high school and college I took a job with the Racine Police Department (see work bio).
In 1975 I married Debra Cavan (Horlick class of 1973). We are now approaching our 36th wedding anniversary.
We both enjoy traveling but our jobs kept us in Racine most of our lives. So in 2004, we decided to leave the comfort of home and open a new chapter in our lives. We looked around for a new community and we settled in South Carolina. Even though we occasionally miss people and things back home, we are happy with our new surroundings and wonderful weather.
Workplace
After high school I attended the U of W (Parkside) and joined the Racine Police Department. I obtained a degree in Criminal Justice and stayed with the RPD until retiring as a Shift Commander, Feb. 2001 with 32 years of service.
Over the years on departme...Expand for more
nt I held a wide variety of assignments. After serving as a dispatcher I made patrolman in 1971. I was promoted to Investigator Jan. 1979. In this capacity I worked the vice unit, the detective bureau (Major Crimes Squad) and Internal Affairs. During this time I handled a number of major cases, locally and with other jurisdictions.
I was promoted to Sergeant, Mar. 1990, and I went back to the patrol division as a squad leader. This was a rewarding and fun job to hold. It was with apprehension that I transferred out of Patrol Dec. 1994, to become the Training Unit Commander. In this capacity I was in charge of all Probationary Patrol officers, all department training (including the Citizen Police Academy) and all weapons. My work in this area was rewarded with a promotion to Lieutenant, Feb. 1997.
I was posted back to the Patrol unit as a Shift Commander, in charge of all department operations during my shift. During this time the department rotated these assignments resulting in annual tours in charge of day shift, then 2nd and then a year on midnights before returning to days. I worked in this annual rotation until Feb. 2001, by which time I had surpassed my retirement eligibility date.
This was both a rewarding and sometimes frustrating career. I feel lucky to have completed my tour relatively unscathed.
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Photos
