If you want to say goodbye to police officer Elwyn Ladd, you better hurry.
After 10 years on the MSU force and 27 in the city, he’s retiring. He said he plans to,”immediately head to the mountains in New Mexico.”
But before his departure, Ladd had time to reflect on his career and to be recognized at a reception in his honor on Aug. 29.
Ladd noted that,”[The highlights of my career were] getting thanked by two students who were involved in, or almost involved in, things that could have been criminal offenses.”
He changed these students’ situations for the better and their lives turned out far different than what they could have, according to Ladd. They thanked him before graduation for the way he handled his contact with them.
He said he has enjoyed his time here because he had a lot more discretion in the way he handled situations. With the WFPD, officer Ladd had an individual thank him for how he handled a situation. Without catching this subject when he did, the subject had no idea what type of life he would have ended up in.
“To me, this job was never about putting as many people in jail as possible,” Ladd said. “What I have enjoyed over the last 10 years is being able to watch the MSU Police Department move forward under three chiefs of police: Mike Hagy, Dan Williams and Patrick Coggins.”
With modern technology, Ladd said they have better equipment and more up-to-date information. The hardest thing he faced at MSU was the shift rotations. Despite the downsides of the job, Ladd said there are some things he will miss when he leaves.
“I will miss everyone on campus, as there are great people who work for MSU,” Ladd said. “But I will miss being at and working the athletic events the most.”
Kelly Maloney, University Police sergeant, retired from the WFPD with Ladd and he was one of Maloney’s first field training officers.
“I’ve known officer Ladd since 1978, and he is an exceptional officer,” Maloney said at a reception in Ladd’s honor August 29th. “He is dedicated to public service.”
Brian Bohn, WFPD officer, said, “officer Ladd was one of my first field training officers and we both worked together with Crime Stoppers. We wish him the best of luck.”
While at the reception, Coggins joked about Ladd’s retirement plans.
“If you’re going to tell him goodbye, do it before Thursday because he’s headed off to the mountains.”
Aug. 30 was Ladd’s last day at MSU.
