Daniel Danny Contreras II

1937 - 2022

News story
By Mike Sigov
Blade staff writer


Daniel "Danny" Contreras ll, a longtime Lucas County sheriff's deputy who once ran for sheriff, died March 2 at the Manor of Perrysburg. He was 84.

He died following a ground-level fall, Pamela Bassett-Contreras, his wife of nearly 30 years, said.

"He was a great leader," David Terry, a Lucas County sheriff's deputy, said. "He was very supportive of me and the rest of the men and women working under his command. He always taught us and pushed us to be the best we could be. And he stood behind us and supported us."

Mr. Contreras retired in 2002 with the rank of captain, after 32 years with the department. He was promoted to captain in 1985 and was put in charge of overall security at the Lucas County jail after supervising the jail's booking area for six years.

Before that, he was a departmental training officer on corrections at the jail for about five years beginning in 1974, after working as a counselor and classification officer at the jail.

In 2004, Mr. Contreras unsuccessfully ran for sheriff against the then-Sheriff James Telb and Oregon police Chief Tom Gulch. Mr. Contreras, a Democrat, ran as an independent.

"He was good and he was always upbeat," Mr. Telb said. "I always liked him, even though he ran against me. All the officers liked and respected him. And when he disciplined them, they took the discipline without appealing it or going to their union."

He also coached varsity soccer at Bowsher High School for 17 years in the 1980s and 1990s and also coached at Lake High School for a couple of years in the 1990s.

In retirement, Mr. Contreras worked in guest services on the pediatric floor at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center for several years until the start of the pandemic.

He also volunteered for the Toledo Police Department's Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol and for support groups helping war veterans cope with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Over the years, Mr. Contreras had served on the boards of Boys and Girls Club of Toledo, Salvation Army of Northwest Ohio, and Rescue Crisis.

"He was a wonderful man, very outgoing and giving," his wife said. "And he was a great motivator and leader who helped a lot of people with their careers."

He was born Nov. 13, 1937 in Toledo to Lucia and Daniel Contreras, the oldest of 10 children.

Mr. Contreras graduated from Macomber High School in 1956 and then worked in the Toledo area for what was then the New York Central Railroad before enlisting in the Marines in 1958. He served in Okinawa until his honorable discharge in 1961.

He then returned to the United States and worked for the railroad for a few more years before he was hired at the sheriff's department.

In his free time, Mr. Contreras enjoyed running, weightlifting, and reading poetry and autobiographies, especially those by President John Kennedy and his family members.

"He was always moving," Rachel Bahnsen, a sister, said. "He was always into things. He was curious and adventurous, and he was a teaser."

Mr. Contreras was a member of St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Church.

His other memberships included Elks of Maumee.

He was preceded in death by three siblings.

Surviving is his wife, Pamela Bassett-Contreras; sons, Scott, Daniel, and Matt Contreras; daughters, Lisa Porter, Tiffanie Contreras-Hartman, and Stefany Conway; sisters, Rachel Bahnsen, Madeline Lascola, Gloria Bunker, and Shirley Okdie; brothers, Richard and Leopoldo Contreras; 10 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church.

The family suggests tributes to Heroes In Action and Anne Grady Corp.