Lt. Steve Rockey Retires After 36 Years As Warsaw Police Officer
July 15, 2022 at 1:07 a.m.
Lt. Steve Rockey Retires After 36 Years As Warsaw Police Officer
By Staff Report-
Lt. Steve Rockey completed his final duty day for the city of Warsaw on Wednesday. WPD held a luncheon for Rockey as several members of Rockey’s family, many officers and city officials were in attendance, according to a news release from WPD.
Chief Scott Whitaker spoke on behalf of the department, thanking Rockey for his 36 years of service and shared some laughs about memories from all these years. Additionally, Whitaker presented Rockey with a plaque, as well as his duty weapon, which is customary for retiring police officers.
Mayor Joe Thallemer was on hand to thank Rockey for his years of service and stated he looks forward to Rockey’s continued service to the city of Warsaw in his new role working for the Warsaw Municipal Airport, stated the release.
Another recent retiree, Chuck Hodges, who transitioned from police work to continued service to Warsaw with the Street Department, shared several stories from years past in their exploits with working the job and specialized training.
Prior to beginning civilian law enforcement, Rockey entered the U.S. Army on May 11, 1983, and successfully completed military police school at Ft. McClellan, Ala. From there, Rockey served in Germany with the 709th Military Police Battalion. He completed his tour of duty with the Army in San Antonio, Texas.
In July 1986, Rockey joined WPD as a dispatcher, awaiting an opening on the street. In September of that year, he officially began as a probationary patrolman. He graduated with the 88th session of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
On June 29, 1994, Rockey was one of several officers who arrived at a horrific scene and a dark day in this city’s history. On that day, Det. Sgt. Phil Hochstetler, investigating a burglary, attempted to interview a suspect, and was shot and killed on East Clark Street in Warsaw. The suspect then turned the gun on his two children, killing them as well. It turned into a massive and manhunt that ended in a hail of bullets in downtown Warsaw three days after the killings, stated the release.
Rockey was instrumental in stopping the killer that day, who was shot and killed by multiple officers at the end of a slow speed pursuit which came to a stop at the intersection of Detroit and Market streets, stated the release. For his actions, Rockey was awarded the department’s Medal of Honor and Meritorious Conduct.
In fall 2000, serving as corporal of second shift, Rockey was responding to a call for service and trying to affect an arrest on a suspect in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. The suspect attempted to flee in the vehicle and Rockey was significantly injured after being run over twice by the suspect. The injuries sustained in that attack kept him off work for around six months. Rockey received a Purple Heart award for that incident, the release states.
Due to the events experienced with the murder of Hochstetler, WPD and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office created the county’s first SWAT team. Rockey was one of the original officers serving on that team and served in that capacity from 1995 to 2009. During that time, his specialty was a breacher for the team and served as a team leader.
Rockey was instrumental with the city’s Motorcycle Patrol Unit, stated the release. While the motorcycle was a consistent tool for enforcement over the years, it had fallen dormant in the late 1990s. In the early 2000s, the unit was revamped with the addition of a Harley Davidson. Rockey was one of a handful of officers who logged many hours of enforcement and service on the motor. As he reminisces, he states that was one of his favorite things he will miss in this job.
Rockey has served as a corporal, sergeant and was patrol commander during his 36 years. He has worked on all shifts but retires as the midnight shift supervisor, where he has been for the last several years.
“We are so thankful for all he has done for the city and the department, and we are excited for this new chapter in his life, as he will transition back to working in sunlight! We are also so appreciative to his family who has shared in his joys and sorrows throughout these many years. Our prayer is that he will be able to enjoy less stressful days with his family through this new journey,” stated the release.
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Lt. Steve Rockey completed his final duty day for the city of Warsaw on Wednesday. WPD held a luncheon for Rockey as several members of Rockey’s family, many officers and city officials were in attendance, according to a news release from WPD.
Chief Scott Whitaker spoke on behalf of the department, thanking Rockey for his 36 years of service and shared some laughs about memories from all these years. Additionally, Whitaker presented Rockey with a plaque, as well as his duty weapon, which is customary for retiring police officers.
Mayor Joe Thallemer was on hand to thank Rockey for his years of service and stated he looks forward to Rockey’s continued service to the city of Warsaw in his new role working for the Warsaw Municipal Airport, stated the release.
Another recent retiree, Chuck Hodges, who transitioned from police work to continued service to Warsaw with the Street Department, shared several stories from years past in their exploits with working the job and specialized training.
Prior to beginning civilian law enforcement, Rockey entered the U.S. Army on May 11, 1983, and successfully completed military police school at Ft. McClellan, Ala. From there, Rockey served in Germany with the 709th Military Police Battalion. He completed his tour of duty with the Army in San Antonio, Texas.
In July 1986, Rockey joined WPD as a dispatcher, awaiting an opening on the street. In September of that year, he officially began as a probationary patrolman. He graduated with the 88th session of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
On June 29, 1994, Rockey was one of several officers who arrived at a horrific scene and a dark day in this city’s history. On that day, Det. Sgt. Phil Hochstetler, investigating a burglary, attempted to interview a suspect, and was shot and killed on East Clark Street in Warsaw. The suspect then turned the gun on his two children, killing them as well. It turned into a massive and manhunt that ended in a hail of bullets in downtown Warsaw three days after the killings, stated the release.
Rockey was instrumental in stopping the killer that day, who was shot and killed by multiple officers at the end of a slow speed pursuit which came to a stop at the intersection of Detroit and Market streets, stated the release. For his actions, Rockey was awarded the department’s Medal of Honor and Meritorious Conduct.
In fall 2000, serving as corporal of second shift, Rockey was responding to a call for service and trying to affect an arrest on a suspect in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. The suspect attempted to flee in the vehicle and Rockey was significantly injured after being run over twice by the suspect. The injuries sustained in that attack kept him off work for around six months. Rockey received a Purple Heart award for that incident, the release states.
Due to the events experienced with the murder of Hochstetler, WPD and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office created the county’s first SWAT team. Rockey was one of the original officers serving on that team and served in that capacity from 1995 to 2009. During that time, his specialty was a breacher for the team and served as a team leader.
Rockey was instrumental with the city’s Motorcycle Patrol Unit, stated the release. While the motorcycle was a consistent tool for enforcement over the years, it had fallen dormant in the late 1990s. In the early 2000s, the unit was revamped with the addition of a Harley Davidson. Rockey was one of a handful of officers who logged many hours of enforcement and service on the motor. As he reminisces, he states that was one of his favorite things he will miss in this job.
Rockey has served as a corporal, sergeant and was patrol commander during his 36 years. He has worked on all shifts but retires as the midnight shift supervisor, where he has been for the last several years.
“We are so thankful for all he has done for the city and the department, and we are excited for this new chapter in his life, as he will transition back to working in sunlight! We are also so appreciative to his family who has shared in his joys and sorrows throughout these many years. Our prayer is that he will be able to enjoy less stressful days with his family through this new journey,” stated the release.
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