At a regular spring meeting of the Senior Volunteer Police (SVP) a short ceremony was held to honor three retiring members of the unit – Lucille Noack, Pat Murphy and Ken Wiley. A more formal ceremony was held at the annual dinner in January, 2013.
These three members combined gave over forty years of service to our community and our police force. The forty years of voluntarism provided our city and its people with more than 10,000 hours of service. Their efforts included duties like regular patrols, traffic control for both accident scenes and special events and daily house checks for vacationing residents.
Lucille Noack was a graduate of Academy #2 in 1996. She joined the group after retiring and settling back into Coronado life. Prior to joining the SVP she worked for various government agencies serving in the Philippines, Mexico City and Poland as well as state side.
Her son Jack was present at this retirement ceremony as he had been some sixteen years earlier to pin her badge on her first uniform.
Lucille has remained an active member of Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church where she has served as deacon, usher and flower committee over the years.
Pat Murphy was also a graduate of Academy #2. Pat previously spent over thirty years in banking and his last position before his banking retirement was with the Bank of Coronado. Pat learned of the SVP while working at the bank and had aspirations to join once he was retired, allowing more free time to commit to the program.
Pat had not planned to stay this long but referenced the old saying “Time flies when you are having fun”. He was having so much fun that he worked with the SVP unit for sixteen years. He has not only put in over 2,000 hours with the SVP, but has logged over 15, 000 miles on his auto traveling to and from his home in the Clairemont area of San Diego His last seven years he partnered with Ken Wiley, also retiring.
Pat and his wife have lived in the same home in San Diego for almost fifty years. Many of his children live locally, justifying him to continue his “Grandfather Taxi Service”. He has also been a volunteer at the VA Hospital doing transport for out patients.
The third retiree is Ken Wiley who joined the SVP with Academy #5. His background is as different and diverse as his fellow volunteers. Ken was a naval officer, specifically a carrier pilot, whose last assignment was air boss on the USS Midway.
After naval retirement “Mr. Fix It” as he was known in the neighborhood, became a licensed electrician and ran Ken Wiley Electrical until he seriously retired in the late 90s.
Ken served the SVP starting in 2003 riding patrol, helping with special events and being available where needed.
Although known as a quiet man he has served as commodore of CYC in 2000, was a ham radio operator and a founder of the Top Gun program. Last year he was honored at an informal ceremony aboard the Midway with some of the officers who also served on that ship. That day he got to sit in his old seat as he had when he was air boss.
The Senior Police Volunteers provide an important service to the people of Coronado. They give many hours of their time and are greatly appreciated. Congratulations on the positive difference you have made, Lucille, Pat and Ken, for the people of Coronado.
Content and photo courtesy of SVP member Carol Pastor.
Edited by Kellee Hearther
Online Editor
eCoronado.com
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