(Posted with permission from the Wakefield Daily Item0
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Ramocki retires after 33 years
Former DARE officer says drugs getting more dangerous
~ By GAIL LOWE
WAKEFIELD — A teacher at the Galvin Middle School once told DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Officer Robert Ramocki he was “the biggest kid in the school.”
It was said in jest and affection and Ramocki smiles at the memory. For 10 years, between 1992 and 2002, Ramocki was anchored at Galvin to teach students about drug prevention. During those 10 years, Ramocki also taught students how to make good decisions to help them avoid high-risk behaviors to ensure they would grow up healthy, safe and secure. His job as a DARE officer brought him face to face with youth and he instilled in them a sense of self-esteem and self-respect. He also lectured on the negative effects of bullying.
“I’m blessed to have been at the Galvin Middle School for all those years,” he said. “The experience gave me an appreciation for teachers and I enjoyed the kids.”
Last Tuesday, Feb. 23, Ramocki turned in his police badge and retired after 33 years on the job. His decision to retire at age 57 was due in large part to seeing his father Max, the town’s beloved safety officer for many years, retire at age 65, only to die six months later.
But before saying a final good-bye to his fellow officers, he talked about his career as a patrolman and DARE officer and what it meant to him.
While studying criminal justice at Northeastern University, Ramocki interned at the Wakefield police station. A job offer as patrolman came after he graduated. His DARE appointment came in 1992.
“I enjoyed being a DARE officer thoroughly,” said Ramocki. “I met a lot of nice people and I enjoyed the kids and the field trips we went on to Camp Bournedale and Washington, D.C. and other places.” Ramocki said he continues to bring coffee to the women in the office at Galvin. “It’s all part of the routine,” he said.
Though the DARE program ended in 2002 due to lack of funding, Ramocki said that drug abuse continues to be a huge, serious problem. “People think that a certain type of people abuse drugs but drug abusers come from all walks of life,” he said.
Ramocki said he strongly believes that DARE should be reinstated.
“Friends won’t tell you how dangerous drugs are,” he said, “but cops will. That’s why DARE should continue to exist - to educate kids and the dangers involved.”
Ramocki said that OxyContin is the drug of choice now but methamphetamines are making their way across the continent from the Far West. “Bits and pieces are finding their way to the East Coast,” he said. “And methamphetamines are even more dangerous than OxyContin.”
In retirement, Ramocki will spend his days enjoying the company of his wife Lois and his two sons, daughter and grandchildren. He’ll also catch up on reading his favorite books by Patterson and Cussler and polish up his golf clubs. In the spring he’ll get his garden ready for planting.
He’ll also visit the police station to see his friends. “Once a cop, always a cop,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of good friends here.
“Years ago, my father discouraged my brother Steve and me from~ joining the police force,” he said. “He said it was hard work. But it’s work my brother and I loved. My father would be proud.”
| 
