Sgt. Roger Bosze: Parma Heights Finest
Imagine you spent the last 22 years going into work for a boss nicknamed Crabby. A boss that was proud of that moniker. Needless to say, going into work each day would not be at the top of your favorite's list.
The 48 officers, dispatchers and employees of the Parma Heights Police Department have been doing that for thier whole careers, and they will tell you that working for that boss is one of the aspects of the job they enjoy the most. Sgt. Roger Bosze is that boss.
On March 24th, 2010, Sgt Bosze is being honored by the Parma Elks Lodge #1938, the Sun News and Champs as the Police Officer of the year. An honor that many will say is long overdue. Also being honored that night is Citizen of Year Ann Kilbane Wing, Firefighter of the Year Greg Hradisky and Volunteer of the Year Sally Catalano.
During a career that has spanned five decades, Sgt. Bosze has worked with 67 different current and former officers. You would be hard pressed to find any of those officers who would have any thing bad to say about him.
Sgt. Bosze was sworn in on October 1st, 1966 as a Police Officer and was promoted to Sergeant on April 14th, 1972. Over a third of the current department was not even born when he took the oath of office. The dedication he displayed during his tenure to the City, to the Department and his fellow employees created an effect similar to a boomerang returning to its thrower. He is the most respected and most liked member of the department.
This is Sgt, Bosze's swan song year. He will be retiring in January 2011. By most accounts, he has been retiring for well over a decade. For the last ten years, fellow employees have been hearing him make regular comments at roll call such as "I'm done after this year" or "shoot me if I am here next year." But his dedication and friendship to the people he worked with would not let him pull that trigger.
During his career, His contributions to the people and the agency is impossible to measure, but he would never acknowledge that. That is not his style. His style is quiet, unassuming and humble. Many doubt that he would even recognize the effect he has had on the people who surround him.
His retirement at the end of this year will create a void that will be difficult to fill as long as the current members are still around. His logical,sensible and low key approach to problem solving and supervision is a model that all future supervisors. The void that will be created at the personal level, with the people who work and talk with him on a daily basis will never be filled.
Congratulations to Sgt. Roger Bosze as Police Officer of the Year. If anybody out there is taking nominations for Human Being of the Year, please consider nominating Sgt. Bosze. If there is an award available for Crab of the Year, it would make him very happy if you considered him for that one also.