Personal factsDavid Schwartz, Forest Lake Chief of Police, Age: 55, born on Nov. 11, 1948. Parents: Ed and Evelyn Schwartz (both deceased), the oldest of six siblings. Height and weight: 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds. Married: Wife Lucy (Peloquin), three adult children, two grandchildren who are the ìapple of my eye.î Has lived in Hugo since 1972. Hired as a part-time city police officer in 1969. Became police chief in May of 1979.
Education
Forest Lake High School, 1966; Attended St. Cloud State College and Lakewood Community College, earning a two-year degree at Lakewood; earned a four-year degree in public administration from Metro State University, St. Paul, and a masterís degree in police leadership from St. Thomas University; completed the FBI Academy and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Academy programs.
Mentors
Jim Trudeau, Forest Lake, the city police chief prior to Schwartzís appointment in May of 1979, and the late Gale Lindsey, a former FBI agent, state liquor commissioner and city of Forest Lake Police Commission member who encouraged Schwartz to attend the FBI Academy and was a friend for many years.
Proudest accomplishments
The mentoring of many young police officers during his tenure as police chief, hiring the cityís first female police officer, the creation of the Forest Lake Safety Camp for youth, taking part in the National Night Out summer program and the launching of the Forest Lake Police Explorerís Post 515.
Moment to remember
The night of a Forest Lake Firemenís Ball some 30 years ago when Schwartz and fellow officer Roy Childers, both in costumes, played a prank on fellow officer Mel Grove by rolling through a stop sign and not stopping for Grove who was on duty and patrolling the city. A young officer at the time, Grove was at a loss for moments as Schwartz drove away from the stop and Childers left Schwartzís car and ran on foot. The practical joke ended well and no arrests were made.
Moments to forget
Handling death investigations of young people and breaking the news to family members, failing to get convictions in criminal cases and unsolved crimes. As Schwartz prepares to retire, the still unsolved Carlson arson case this fall and the destruction of the $5 million home under construction is a case heíd like to close. ìThis big house fire is weighing on me,î he says. ìIím convinced it was an arsonist who burned that house.î
In the line of duty
During his 34-year police career, Schwartz fired his gun in the line only once other than in training or to dispatch a hurt animal. The shooting incident came when Schwartz and the late Sgt. Bob Stewart responded to a late-night burglary at Rolseth Drug some 25 years ago. Schwartz was at the back of the store when he heard a shotgun blast and feared his partner had been shot. As Schwartz moved to the alley on the north side of the store, he met a suspect who appeared to have a gun. Schwartz fired one round at the subject but missed. The man escaped and was never caught. Stewart was not hurt. His shotgun discharged when the burglary suspect crashed through the front door window and fled.
Big changes
When Schwartz started with the police department in 1969, officers had one radio channel and were also notified of police calls by a red light at the Holiday Station in the downtown and one at Setterholmís on south US-61. Todayís officers have more than a dozen radio channels at their service and computers in squad cars that provide instantaneous information.
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