Freeman leaves with fond memories of 34 years on force

CELINA - Former assistant police chief Cal Freeman walked out of his office for the last time Friday with "absolutely no regrets" after 34 years with the department.

As he cleaned out his office on Thursday, carrying away boxes of plaques, photos and other mementos, he commented how he got up each and every morning ready to work.

"I've always wanted to be in law enforcement," Freeman, 59, said. "It's just something I knew I always wanted to do."

He believes law enforcement officers, who are as prone to err as anyone, should be held to a higher standard.

"I think we should be an example of our community," Freeman said. "Especially if we live in the same community we work. I don't think anyone really understands what we go through until they've walked in our shoes. People really don't appreciate some of the things we have to deal with because they just don't know."

After graduating from high school, he took a slight jaunt working in construction, as a restaurant manager and at the former Huffy plant before joining the police department. He is grateful to former officials - mayor Blair Williams, safety director Tom Schwartz and chief Leroy Felver - who gave him the opportunity to join the force.

"They didn't have to hire me but they did," Freeman said, his voice taking on a tinge of nostalgia. "I am forever grateful to them for taking a chance with me."

He grew up in Celina, married his wife, Linda, and raised their three daughters here, he said. The couple now enjoy three grandchildren, who also live in Celina.

He always wanted to be a Celina police officer to "make a difference in the community I love," he said.

His late parents, Chester and Bernice Freeman, showed him the simple things in life can be the most treasured, he said. Support, not coddling, and teaching right from wrong were the core values he got from his parents and he brought those lessons with him to the department, he added.

Police chief Tom Wale said Freeman has been a good officer and his shoes will be hard to fill.

"We're going to miss Cal a lot," Wale said. "I've worked with Cal for 24 years and he has always been there for me and the other guys. He's been such a big help to me, especially when I was transitioning from sergeant to chief."

Wale took over the department in March 2014 after former chief Dave Slusser was fired in June 2013. Freeman acted as interim chief until Wale took over.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey, who also worked with Freeman, agreed with Wale.

"He helped me bring my office and his department closer," Grey said. "He will be sorely missed."

Freeman saw many changes in his years with the department. When he first joined, the department had very few officers and only three black and white cars with the "oscillating red bubble," he said. The department now has 16 officers.

Freeman said he became an officer to enforce the law.

"Now it seems like the only time someone wants to see a cop is when they need them, but other than that, they seem to not want us around," he said. "Look at the things going on around the country and how police officers are being treated. It wasn't always that way."

After 9/11, police departments gained respect, received updated equipment and were given the chance to better interact with other agencies, Freeman said. Those changes were "sorely needed for a long time," he added.

But today officers receive far less respect due to governmental policies and a public that seems to think they are "babysitters, lawyers, judges or counselors," Freeman explained.

"But that's not what or who we are," he added. "Daily we see terrible, awful things. Things no one else sees or hears."

Freeman said officers must learn to deal with those images, sounds and smells. Officers are always left with impressions gained while responding to fatal crashes, seeing dead bodies, or worst of all, telling someone their loved one has died.

When not wearing a badge, Freeman devoted his life to family and athletics. He plays a variety of sports and for the past 10 years has refereed girls soccer games.

A die-hard Ohio State University fan, Freeman says sports and exercise have been a part of his daily regime and have kept him grounded.

His law enforcement career has not ended. He is joining the Coldwater Police Department.

"It's a new opportunity, which I really appreciate being given," Freeman said. "I've been allowed to work with a lot of good people, both past and present. I feel very lucky being afforded all the opportunities in my life. There are a lot of good men and women here and in the county that work hard every day to make lives safer and easier. It's been a true pleasure."