Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 8, 1995 TAG: 9509080090
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But the 58-year-old veteran law enforcer said some did not live to see the day - and he wants to be sure he does.
He will retire as Salem's top law enforcer on Nov. 1, his 20th anniversary as police chief.
"This is a young man's business," Haskins said. "I need to get out of the way and let the young men do the job."
City Manager Randy Smith will name Haskins' successor at City Council's meeting Monday night .
Smith acknowledges there has been wide speculation that he will name the department's second-in-command, Capt. James R. Bryant, to the post, but he would not confirm it.
"As a matter of courtesy, I think it's owed to announce it to council first," Smith said.
Since he was appointed to the office in 1975 by former City Manager William Paxton, Haskins has made numerous additions to Salem's Police Department.
But the accomplishment he is most proud of is initiating the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.
The city's D.A.R.E. program began in 1985, making it one of the first 13 localities in the state to do so.
A similar drug awareness program had been active in Salem, but a colleague from Los Angeles sold Haskins on the idea of D.A.R.E.
"I was convinced that the answer probably was in education," Haskins said. "I knew it wasn't in law enforcement."
Haskins said he has paid a lot of attention to children of the Salem community during his tenure.
"That's the thing I see as the spirit of our city," he said. The D.A.R.E. program and other programs targeted to youths "capitalize on the spirit of our city."
In connection with the D.A.R.E. program, Haskins and Assistant City Manager Forest Jones started Salem Camp D.A.R.E, a program offered to Andrew Lewis Middle School students that Haskins says "reinforces the teachings of D.A.R.E."
"It lets youngsters see police officers in an informal setting," Haskins said. "And at the same time it gives them some great role models."
Haskins also has been credited for creating a chaplain position in the Police Department. He saw the need for the position after one of his officers was killed in the line of duty in 1976.
"I found out then we needed the presence of a chaplain," Haskins said.
Chaplains now have taken on numerous duties, including the delivering of death messages and counseling department employees.
Among other accomplishments, Haskins founded the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy in Salem in 1983. The academy trains law enforcers for about 32 different agencies.
At age 58, Haskins said he is ready to retire.
"I started when I was 21," he said. "Perhaps I am retiring earlier agewise than some chiefs, but longer in service."
Haskins recalled many colleagues who had waited until they were in their 60s to retire. Two friends of his in the state police waited - but died before their retirement.
"I guess it is selfish," he said. "And I wish some of my colleagues who had passed away" could have reached retirement also.
"I hope the Lord will give me a few more years, but what time I have left, I want to fill it with quality time," said Haskins, who has suffered from diabetes and hypertension.
When Haskins leaves his office, he will remain involved with the city in a part-time position as the coordinator of employee safety. He will train city employees in safety to reduce worker compensation claims, he said.
He even threw out the possibility of running for City Council at some point, although he does not want to run against any of the current incumbents "out of respect," he said. "They have been very kind to me.
"Several people have approached me for running for City Council," Haskins said.
"I'm flattered by the overtures. But I'm not sure getting out of this office and going into politics" would be any less stressful.
HARRY T. HASKINS JR.
RETIRING SALEM POLICE CHIEF|
Age: 58.
Born: Clifton Forge.
Education: Bachelor of arts in criminal justice from Roanoke College, 1981.
Professional: Salem police chief since Nov. 1, 1975; special agent for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Jefferson and George Washington National Forests, 1974-1975; state trooper, 1958-1974.
Community: Member of First United Methodist Church in Salem.
Family: Married to Darlene Terry Haskins. Has three daughters, three stepsons and six grandchildren.
by CNB