April 9, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 Wyckoff Sergeant Dale Winters honored for 25-year career by John Koster The Wyckoff Township Committee honored retired Police Sergeant Dale Winters with a plaque that con- tained his badge and accolades for a 25-year career that contributed to Wyckoff’s excellent public safety record. Committeeman Kevin Rooney noted that Winters once sent him a photograph of Rooney’s house -- where Winters had once resided. Rooney said that Winters, a multi-generational Wyckoff resident had gone through the Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps, EMS training, and police work with Newark and Homeland Security before he joined the Wyckoff force, where he became a respected member of the department. Police Chief Benjamin Fox, the main speaker at the public meeting on April 1, said Winters had been pro- moted to sergeant in 2006 and had spent much of his career with the patrol division. “In his extra assignments, Dale was dedicated to teaching others with an emphasis on safety,” Chief Fox remembered. “He served as an officer in charge of the school crossing guards and developed a genuine relation- ship with many of the guards. Many of the guards are Police Chief Benjamin Fox and retired Police Sergeant Dale Winters senior citizens, and during periods of illness, he would visit them at their homes. He was genuinely caring. At training sessions, he was always stressing to them the importance of performing their duties in a manner that would keep the children they cross and themselves safe.” Chief Fox also said that Winters was a certified fire- arms instructor, armorer, and active shooter trainer. “He took pride in helping other officers increase their skills and he made sure that whatever you did, you did it safely,” Fox added. He remembered that Winters and another officer helped delivery a baby at home in 2003 and were later invited to the bris . “Dale was scheduled to retire in December (2013) but unfortunately May 17 became the last day he would report for duty,” Fox said. “He responded to a domestic call and while trying to arrest an intoxicated individual he was kicked in the knee, which caused substantial damage. The recovery time never allowed his return to duty.” Winters and his wife Robin have a daughter, Kyleigh. A number of police officers attended the meeting and joined the township committee in wishing Winters well.