Remembering Chief Polzin
It is with a heavy heart I write about a true gentleman who, throughout his life, truly loved the Racine community and understood the importance of building positive relationships. The victim of a sudden, unexpected heart attack, Chief Richard Polzin’s life of 74 years came to an end earlier this week. I first met Dick, when I was assigned as a new patrol officer on the Racine Police Department. He was my squad Sergeant.
Dick was absolutely awesome; he was a colleague, mentor, teacher, role model, boss, husband, father and more importantly, a true friend throughout the years. Dick understood the importance of positive recognition in building relationships and integrity at all costs. Not a big man physically, we all looked up to him. He truly cared and walked the talk!
Dick’s journey through life was one of a problem solver and always a “we can do attitude” with a servant's heart. Retirement, it never really happened, as there was always more to be done. Dick continued to be an integral participant in the “COP” neighborhood program he founded in the early 1990’s resulting in today’s (6) six “COP” neighborhood houses.
I am blessed to have had this man in my life for the past 46 years, and while he will be greatly missed, he will never be forgotten, as I am only one of the many thousands of individuals who was touched by his spirit and became a better person because of it. Dick reinforced the philosophy that life was not measured in years, months, weeks, hours or minutes but made up of “moments.” So it is not goodbye but we will meet again.
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