I sat and looked back today at all the partners I had in my career at the Seattle Police Department. Not counting the ones I worked with for a week or two, I had a lot of partners. Many people saw the good, the funny, and the profoundly tragic things someone sees in a career as a police officer and detective in a large city in America.
My first regular partner in the police department was Bob Alexander. Bob and I came on about the same time, but he was from another world from me.
A young black man who grew up in Yakima, his and my experience in the world was different, though we worked well together, had a great time, and became close friends.
Next was my academy classmate, Steve Sparby. An ex-Marine, stiff-collared, a few years older than me. We were often paired together during our academy days and gained the nickname “Husky and Starch.” I wasn’t Starch. We were great friends, and our families spent a lot of time together. Several years later, I was near his bedside when he died, much too young, ignoring symptoms that could have saved his life had he sought treatment. Our partnership ended when he left for the K-9 unit.
Ken Hooper was next. Another great friend. We had a lot of fun (and got into some trouble) together. He lived near me and invited my wife and me to dinner at his house one night. I stopped at the store and bought a bottle of Thunderbird enhanced wine. When his wife, Pam, opened the door, I said, “I brought wine,” and handed her the bottle. “Thanks,” she said, looking at the bottle for which I’d paid a dollar and a half, a bewildered look on her face.
Ken transferred to the K-9 unit too. I began to see a pattern: I was being traded for dogs.
Later, after my transfer to the East Precinct, it was Bill Brandner. Again, a lot of fun, including an incident involving the Hokey Pokey.
Finally to the detectives and partners like Gary Nelson (East Precinct detectives), Chris Lyon (Sex Crimes), and finally Homicide, where I had great partners including Sonny Davis (yes, even Sonny), John Nordlund, Donna O’Neal, Greg Mixsell, Mike Ciesysnki and finally Jason Kasner, my longest tenured partner from 2004 to 2016 when I retired.
I learned a lot from each of my partners. I hope I taught them a thing or two as well.