Celina detective ending 25-year career

CELINA - Longtime Celina Police Detective Ronald Waltmire retired from law enforcement earlier this month but now looks forward to working for the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.

He joined the department in February 1993 as a patrol officer. He was promoted to detective 10 years later by then-chief David Slusser and had served in that capacity since.

Waltmire told the newspaper he was stepping back from police work after 25 years and will transition to investigative work for Mercer County Prosecutor Matthew Fox.

He said he couldn't remember his first case because the department often juggles 15 to 20 cases at a time. He noted, however, he was most proud of solving the 2016 Second National Bank robbery case.

"It was fun identifying everybody and ending up getting that taken care of," he said. "We ended up identifying five guys, all from the Fort Wayne area. There was a video of them we put on social media immediately. We had a phone caller who recognized someone in the video. Turns out he had done another bank robbery in Fort Wayne that same week."

Unfortunately, many cases remain unsolved, he said, noting a couple of armed robberies in the books are without resolution.

"We would like to bat 100 percent. That's the goal, but of course that's not feasible," he said.

When he started on the force, he usually handled bar fights and other alcohol-related crimes, Waltmire said. He said he would watch cop shows on which the officers always would ask suspects if they were carrying any needles.

Waltmire recalled thinking this question unusual as he had never had to deal with such issues. Today, however, needles and other potentially harmful items hidden on a suspect are a major concern for officers.

"They have to worry about needles and drug powders that could end up killing you if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.

Waltmire attended training sessions to hone his crime-scene investigation and interview skills.

During one session, Waltmire remembered a detective from Washington, D.C., with more than 20 years of experience had told him when beginning an interview, "You've got to understand anybody and everybody will lie to police."

However, people don't want to lie, Waltmire said.

"When people lie, they show stress," he said. "After they confess, they feel less tension because they've been trying to convince you they didn't do something."

Not everybody is cut out to conduct investigative interviews, police chief Tom Wale said.

"You've got to have the right detective in there," he said. "Ron will be much better at talking to people than I would be. I am more blunt and to the point."

When handling a crime scene, Wale said the detective is the crime-scene manager. Investigating a crime scene is like putting together a puzzle, Waltmire added.

"But you don't have the picture on the box telling you what the goal is," he said. "If you can get a resolution, that's the thing I enjoy."

Waltmire's wife, Tina, said she worried about him while he was on the job.   

"I look at the crime reports in the newspaper. Sometimes I'm looking and I see a police shooting. I would immediately call him to make sure he's OK," she said.

Like most officers, Waltmire said he had to work odd hours and sacrifice time with his family. Their kids used to send text messages, asking when Dad would be home, Tina Waltmire said, adding the answer was always, "When he pulls in the driveway."

"We just never knew when he would get home," she said.

Wale, who last week presented Waltmire with a plaque to commemorate his years of service, told the newspaper the detective's work ethic didn't go unnoticed.

"I have worked with Ron Waltmire at the Celina P.D. his entire career. He has always had unquestionable integrity, honesty and an excellent work ethic. You can always trust Ron with personal as well as professional issues which come up. He would always give good advice or find an answer you need," Wale wrote in an email.

"Ron has been an invaluable asset to the Celina P.D. and by extension, the City of Celina," Wale continued. "His knowledge and ability as an investigator is something other officers aspire to. I have never ceased to be impressed by his ability to successfully solve cases we knew would be difficult from the start. If a crime could be solved, we could always count on Ron to solve it. His meticulous attention to detail always gave me confidence in his conclusions. His absence from our department will certainly be felt."