A lot has changed since Henry Wallace, the first African American promoted to the rank of police captain in Michigan, walked the streets of Pontiac early in his career as a sheriff's deputy.
Wallace, 79, remembers when the city was a “metropolis,” he said.
“We had six automobile plants in the nearby area, money was everywhere — we had everything. I remember when there were five movie theaters in downtown Pontiac on Saginaw Street.”
The city has since fallen on hard times, requiring the help of three emergency managers, but Wallace holds to the belief that “we’re going to come back,” he said.
Highly revered by the community and his fellow officers, Wallace recently retired from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, but still remains loyal to the city he calls home.
Wallace’s ties to Pontiac run deep. He’s spent more than two-thirds of his life living in the city, working under four sheriffs, five county prosecutors and two county executives.
Since his last day May 3, he has been honored by the Pontiac City Council, his fellow deputies and, soon, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for the service to the community — but also for his trailblazing work in law enforcement.
He has been a lecturer against drugs at various community venues, a longtime secretary for the Society of African American Police, and a 41-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. He was even instrumental in making corrections training with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office a requirement, he said.
The Americus, Ga., native moved to Tampa, Fla., then to Pontiac — all before he was 13 years old. He served in the Korean War in 1953, at a state mental institution and a state hospital in Pontiac before settling into his career, but there was one thing he was sure of, he said: “I always wanted to wear a badge.” Continued...
Wallace, 79, remembers when the city was a “metropolis,” he said.
“We had six automobile plants in the nearby area, money was everywhere — we had everything. I remember when there were five movie theaters in downtown Pontiac on Saginaw Street.”
The city has since fallen on hard times, requiring the help of three emergency managers, but Wallace holds to the belief that “we’re going to come back,” he said.
Highly revered by the community and his fellow officers, Wallace recently retired from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, but still remains loyal to the city he calls home.
Wallace’s ties to Pontiac run deep. He’s spent more than two-thirds of his life living in the city, working under four sheriffs, five county prosecutors and two county executives.
Since his last day May 3, he has been honored by the Pontiac City Council, his fellow deputies and, soon, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for the service to the community — but also for his trailblazing work in law enforcement.
He has been a lecturer against drugs at various community venues, a longtime secretary for the Society of African American Police, and a 41-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. He was even instrumental in making corrections training with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office a requirement, he said.
The Americus, Ga., native moved to Tampa, Fla., then to Pontiac — all before he was 13 years old. He served in the Korean War in 1953, at a state mental institution and a state hospital in Pontiac before settling into his career, but there was one thing he was sure of, he said: “I always wanted to wear a badge.” Continued...
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