THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 17, 1994 TAG: 9406150215
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
DATELINE: 940617 LENGTH: Medium
It's Portsmouth's most unusual police job.
{REST} Now Donald D. Ambrose Jr., the man who pioneered on the two-wheel downtown beat several years ago, is retiring June 30.
Ambrose, 51, has 28 years on the police force.
No doubt about it, he loves his job.
But he also loves to fish the creeks near his home in Bertie County, N.C.
He and his wife, Marianne, moved back to his childhood home in the country eight or nine years ago. He's been living down there and driving up to work, spending some nights here and some there.
``My wife has been after me to retire, so I'm doing it,'' Donnie said Tuesday.
The recent implementation of a sweeter retirement deal by City Council had some influence on his decision, he admitted.
``But I really look forward to taking July off,'' he added.
Still, he said, he hates to go.
When the Police Department decided to put one police officer on a bike downtown several years ago, Donnie applied.
``I was burnt out riding a radio car,'' he said. ``I needed a change and I met a lot of nice people down here.''
As it worked out, his easy-going personality was a good fit with the Olde Towne merchants. In fact, a year or so ago, when he was about to be transferred, the telephones were ringing fast and furious at city hall.
``You know, I really appreciated what the people downtown did,'' he said. ``It was really nice that they wanted me to keep the job.''
Tuesday morning, the Olde Towne Portsmouth Association told him in another way that he's special to them. They presented him with gift certificates to shop for whatever he wants.
As far as crime goes, the years on a bicycle have been somewhat uneventful, he said. ``We just don't have a lot of excitement downtown.''
He never was shot at or attacked, never even fell completely off his bicycle.
``Once I was rushing to a call and hit a rock and I had to run quite a ways to keep from falling,'' he said. That was after he let the bicycle go.
Another time he almost hit a brick wall but kept his cool and regained his balance before he hit the ground.
His regulation bicycle is a 21-speed model.
``But I don't use all those,'' he said. ``I just put it in gear and go.''
Hot weather is not a problem for him.
``Much as I stop and talk, it doesn't get too bad,'' he said.
Most weeks, Donnie works 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.
``That's been nice,'' he admitted.
The bicycle beat stretches from County Street through Olde Towne, Chestnut Street to the waterfront.
``I try to be on the waterfront when the tour boats come in and when they leave,'' Donnie said. ``Those visitors appreciate whatever you do.''
The decision to leave a bicycle-riding cop downtown was made easier by Donnie Ambrose, who took the job personally and seriously.
Although a little on the shy side, he gets around to speak to folks on all parts of his beat every day, sort of like police officers used to do when they patrolled on foot.
But, easy-going as he is, Ambrose moves quickly to answer radio calls. He frequently caught up with petty criminals before they knew what was happening.
Picking someone to fill the job after July 1 will be tough. But Donnie Ambrose's success in making the beat important probably has assured that the city will leave a bicycle-riding officer downtown.
The job is posted now. by CNB