“Officer Buchanan and Finley Remembered thru Officer of the Month Awards…”
By Chief Fred Maas

It sure doesn’t seem like 6 years ago. The sadness never leaves, it just gets set aside and we move on. But we made promises to family and to each other that we would not forget them or what they meant to us and to this community.

And so, in an unprecedented move, the Officer of the Month for July of 2006, were named in the memory of Officer James “Buck” Buchanan and Sgt. Arnold Finley, both of whom passed away within months of each other back in 2000.

Those of us veterans who started here together will always remember them for their styles, their personalities and their individualism. They were unique and they were certainly different. But both shared many similarities, one being a commitment to serve this community. And serve it they did!

Young officer or officers who have come to work here after their death, will not experience the benefit of having known them. But their styles are carried on in the spirit and philosophy of the agency. How can I help you? Both of them handled calls that way, with that attitude.

And so, in perpetual memory of them and in honor of what they stood for, our officer of the month from Concerned Citizens goes to both of them (posthumously) because in spirit they are still at every roll call and watching our every call. We remember also their families and loved one as we fulfill our promise that we will never forget them. Rest in peace you guys!

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