15 entries
The Guest Book is expired.
|
Robert Jimenez
12/28/1921-7/7/2009
Longtime Lincoln Police Chief Robert Jimenez served the community with an eye for helping others, according to residents and family members.
Jimenez, 87, died just after midnight Tuesday, July 7th, 2009.
Jimenez served 32 years as the police chief for the city of Lincoln, retiring in June, 1979.
At the time of his retirement, the city of Lincoln recognized Jimenez's service with a proclamation for his "giving generously of his time and efforts, unselfishly in all deliberation."
Jimenez was born Dec. 28, 1921 in San Nicolaus, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. He moved to Lincoln when he was two years old and became a citizen just before shipping out for North Africa during World War II.
When Jimenez started as police chief in 1947, he was part of "essentially a one-man police department," according to documents from the Lincoln Area Archives Museum.
Jimenez was then the youngest police officer in the country, but had already distinguished himself with his service in World War II, earning two Purple Hearts and one Silver Star, according to the archives.
During his military career he served as a tank commander in Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army and was friends with America's most decorated war hero, Audie Murphy, who often rode on his tank, according to the archives.
According to an article in The Sacramento Bee just before his retirement, Jimenez said he enjoyed coming to work every day.
Jimenez also served on Gov. Ronald Reagan's police commission for a year and was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Lincoln.
Jimenez is survived by his wife, Judy of more than 30 years, his son, Robert Jimenez II, daughter Dana Jimenez Harder, grandson Conrad Karl Harder and four stepchildren, Mike and Karen McGinnis, Mark Costa and Robert Fish Jr.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. July 16 at St. Joseph's Church at 1162 Lincoln Ave. in Auburn. Following that, his ashes will be interred at the Lincoln Cemetery at 1445 First St. A reception will then be held at the McBean Park Pavilion. All three events are open to the public.
Published in Gold Country Media Newspapers from July 11 to July 16, 2009
