I am a retired detective of the Kettering, OH Police Department, as of June 1, 2001. I was a police officer since 1972, with the same agency. I collected police patches for several years and also accumulated some police vehicle photos before focusing on miniature police vehicles.
I started my ROAD CHAMPS collection when the cars were first offered at local retailers and I was soon dedicated to having them all. Following countless trips to various stores around the Dayton, OH area I began to obtain cars through mail orders and eventually hooked up with Walt Conroy, who now supplies the cars I collect.
Soon after I started to collect, contact was made with the company to determined if it was possible to have a car made representing my department. Through funding by the Kettering Suburban Lodge # 92, Fraternal Order of Police, the first ROAD CHAMPS premium (also called premier) edition of a police vehicle by that company was initiated. Originally made in the Chevy Caprice body style, ROAD CHAMPS was just introducing a Ford Crown Vic version and the Kettering cruiser was the first police vehicle in that body style.
Wanting to acquire all of the cars made, I determined that I would need to contact someone connected to agencies which had authorized a premium version. Thus began the calls, and eventually the e-mails, that hooked me into a "network" of collectors. From there the friendships began to develop as collectors began to help one another find new cars being released. On several occasions I have been able to travel to other states to attend collector shows and meet some of the "e-mail friends" I have made. Hope to see you at a show sometime.
Currently my goal is to acquire patches and memorabilia from agencies with a "Gaines" name, such as Gaines County, Gainesville, Gainesboro, Ft. Gaines, etc.
I no longer am a sales representative with Roy Tailors Uniform Co. I am now a driving instructor with PDS (Professional Driving Systems) Driving School. The company provides driver instruction mainly to high school students to meet state requirements for becoming a licensed driver. All "behind-the-wheel" instructors are current or retired law enforcement officers.
