By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When Tony Hetrick joined the military at age 18, he had set his sights on serving as a mid-air refueler or air traffic controller. But the Air Force assigned him to a role with his feet planted firmly on the ground as a law enforcement specialist.
Hetrick, whose dad was a trooper with the Ohio State Patrol, was a bit disappointed.
“I’ll give it a try and see,” he remembered thinking. He was pleasantly surprised. “I really liked it.”
That was the beginning of a 35-year career in law enforcement – the last 10 as police chief in Bowling Green.
After serving nearly three decades with the Bowling Green Police Division, Hetrick will be retiring on May 4.
Why Bowling Green?
He recalled exactly why he applied at BGPD in 1996 when Galen Ash was chief of police.
“I wanted something where the opportunities were big,” he said.
Not “big” as in big crime rates in a heavily populated city. But “big” as in a wide diversity of calls, with an opportunity to get to know the people he would serve.
“I wanted to engage with people. That’s what BG offered,” he said.
Hetrick served as a detective in the division for 3½ years, when he investigated several sexual assaults, child abuse cases, and the death of an infant.
“That was a tough one,” he recalled. “Being a father, those affected me the most.”
As a detective, he also investigated shootings, served search warrants, and handled several burglaries – identifying patterns to help solve the crimes.
“That was very satisfying, when we broke up rings,” he said.
His favorite rank on the force was serving as sergeant.
“You got to work the street,” and oversee a team of officers. “The decisions you make on the street are very impactful. That was most satisfying.”
“As chief, I’m not out there at 2 in the morning,” unlike sergeants on the force. “That’s where the rubber meets the road.”
Memorable moments
In addition to many crimes and people Hetrick will always remember, there were also several moments in time that will stay with him.
There was the Ku Klux Klan rally at the Wood County Courthouse, where the police were charged with keeping the Klan and the protesters safe. “That was really a tense day,” he recalled.
Then there was the Occupy BG site in the downtown, where police were called upon to remove the campsite after it had been there six weeks. “That caused quite a bit of upheaval,” but the removal of the camp and the protesters was accomplished with no violence.
For those two incidents, Hetrick was an officer, not yet chief. But in May of 2020, it was his turn to handle perhaps the most difficult period in recent policing history, when George Floyd was murdered by police in Minneapolis. That crime put every police force in the spotlight – including Bowling Green Police Division.
Protests were held across the country, including a march drawing more than 500 people in Bowling Green.
“Some erupted into violence, and we didn’t want that to happen here,” Hetrick said.
“I understand the pain people felt at the time. They had every right to be out there. They have a right to voice their grievances.”
As the march paused in front of the police station, Hetrick spoke to the crowd.
“What happened in Minneapolis, we condemn that,” he said. “We are here to listen to you.”
Hetrick was not expecting what came next – when he and other officials were asked to take a knee to show respect to Floyd.
So the police chief, Mayor Mike Aspacher, Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, Ohio State Patrol Commander Angel Burgos, BGPD Major Justin White and BGPD Lt. Dan Mancuso all took a knee in front of the crowd.
Hetrick said the gesture was to show unity with the group. “It was solidarity with them,” he said, adding that Floyd’s death was “a stain on the profession.”
Years later, the chief acknowledged that he took some flack for kneeling at the protest.
“I’ll be honest with you, I got some heat from that,” he said, “Should I have done anything different? I don’t think so.”
As chief, Hetrick also had to deal with the challenges of community policing during Covid. “There were no guidelines for that.”
Bowling Green City Council had adopted a mask ordinance at the height of the virus. Hetrick opted for a light-handed approach, telling officers to offer masks to unmasked people and ask them to cooperate with the law.
“We got cooperation most of the time,” he said.
Policing in a college town
As a younger officer, Hetrick used to really enjoy foot patrol and talking with residents here for four years of school, or their full lives. He has always viewed the college population as a perk not a problem for the community.
“The university brings a lot of good things to the community,” he said. “Mostly they are good kids here, and we know that.”
The year before Hetrick joined BGPD, the legendary Manville and Merry “Madness” party gatherings consumed neighborhood areas and blocked streets close to campus.
“I remember going to an apartment complex where the whole complex was a party,” he said.
Those days are gone – at least for now – with City Council adopting a nuisance party ordinance, and then the arrival of Covid, which discouraged massive gatherings.
Alcohol remains the source of many issues in the community, the chief said.
“The catalyst for a lot of the problems is alcohol,” with impaired driving a top concern for the division. BGPD officers arrest 150 to 200 drunk drivers a year, he said.
For that reason, Hetrick was opposed to the city adopting DORA areas in the downtown, which allow drinking of alcoholic beverages in specific outdoor areas, during specific times.
“That sent the wrong message, in my opinion,” he said.
But Hetrick appreciates the way Bowling Green city officials discuss issues and reach resolutions. “I’m grateful to work in a community that will get together and help solve problems. This has been a great community to work for.”
Time to fly
Now, after 35 years of policing, Hetrick is hoping to have more time for his first career choice of flying. Having a private pilot license for years, now he will have the time to fly for fun and with the Civil Air Patrol, of which he is a member.
Hetrick is also looking forward to spending time with grandkids, with the second one to arrive soon.
And time with his children, a daughter who is a dental hygienist, and a son who is a federal air marshal.
“He never expressed much interest in law enforcement when I was doing it,” Hetrick said with a grin.
And time with Leslie, his wife. The two got married on a Saturday before Hetrick had to report to the police academy – resulting in a two-day honeymoon at the since demolished French Quarter hotel in Perrysburg.
“She’s put up with a lot over the years,” Hetrick said.
“It’s a new beginning,” the chief said. “I’m ready to do something different.”
