Richard Kwiatkowski

1930 - 2022

News story
By Mark Zaborney
Blade staff writer

Richard Kwiatkowski, who rose through the ranks to become a Toledo police deputy chief and even served as acting chief, yet never aspired to the top job, died June 15 at University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio hospital. He was 91.

The cause was heart-related, and he had been in declining health for about a month, his son Gary Kwiatkowski said.

The elder Mr. Kwiatkowski retired as deputy chief of the police division, as it was then known, in November, 1990. When he was hired more 36 years earlier, he earned less as a police officer, $4,200 a year, than he had working at a factory, he told The Blade as he prepared to depart the force.

"It was exciting work. There was a lot of camaraderie," Mr. Kwiatkowski said in 1990. "The division was much smaller then. After you were here a while you knew everyone."

And it was with those comrades he traded stories about life on duty.

At home, "he didn't really discuss the job. He didn't want to worry us," the younger Mr. Kwiatkowski said. "He discussed that with other police officers."

Nor at the elder Mr. Kwiatkowski's retirement did he share much about patrol duty. He said he never chose to fire his weapon during his career, although there were occasions when it probably would have been a wise decision. He did not elaborate.

"No war stories," he told The Blade.

Mr. Kwiatkowski of South Toledo was promoted to sergeant in 1963, to lieutenant in 1969, and captain in 1972. Then-police Chief Corrin McGrath in 1974 named him deputy chief in charge of the uniformed force - the field operations bureau. Seven years later, he was assigned to the support services bureau.

He served as acting chief a few times, including in 1987, with the retirement of Chief John Mason. Mr. Kwiatkowski resumed his previous duties several months later, when Marti Felker became chief. He closed his career in command of the field operations bureau.

He worked for six police chiefs and did not want to join their number.

"It's hard to explain why you don't want the highest job," Mr. Kwiatkowski said in 1990. "There is just a lot of grief involved. You get blamed for everything and don't get credit for anything. I didn't want to subject myself to that."

He received a citation for meritorious service in 1981 after catching a robbery suspect on Cherry Street. He received the Toledo police Professional Service Award in 1988 for exceptional service over the years.

Still, as he retired in 1990, he said crime was worse and crimes were more vicious.

"Certainly you're making a difference," he said then, "but sometimes you wonder. It's not like building a house, where you can look at it and say, 'I did this.'"

His feeling of career accomplishment came in attaining a college education - he received an associate degree in public service technology in 1975 - receiving promotions, and helping citizens.

Off duty, he bowled, golfed, and went fishing, his son said. He and his wife, Valerie, traveled and took Florida vacations.

"He liked to have fun," the younger Mr. Kwiatkowski said.

The elder Mr. Kwiatkowski was born Dec. 24, 1930, and grew up in the Polish-American neighborhood near Nebraska and Junction avenues. He said in 1990 that he left Macomber Vocational High School in his junior year because he was bored, worked in a local factory for two years, and was drafted during the Korean War. He was in the Army and was stationed in Germany, his son said.

He earned a high school equivalency certificate while in the Army.

He'd been a member of the Eagles and the American Legion. He formerly attended St. Catherine Church.

Surviving are his wife of 69 years, the former Valerie Blond; sons Gregory Kwiatkowski and Gary Kwiatkowski; two granddaughters, and three great-grandchildren.

Private services for the family will be scheduled. Arrangements are by the Walter Funeral Home.

The family suggests tributes to a charity of the donor's choice.