Nov 26, 2015 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Lt. Dale Phillips wanted to be a police officer since he was a child. Now, having fulfilled that ambition by serving more than 31 years with the Waynesburg Borough Police Department, he is retiring.

“I have mixed emotions about this,” Phillips said Wednesday, his last day on the job.

“I’ve always enjoyed being involved in law enforcement and I’ve worked with a good group of people here,” he said. “But I’ve done this a long, long time and there are other interests I want to pursue.”

Phillips, 60, started with the Waynesburg department as a full-time patrolman July 23, 1984. Before that, he was a captain at Washington County jail.

However, police work was what he always wanted to do. He said he remembers watching police do their jobs when he was a young child growing up in Washington.

“They always talked to the kids,” he said. “I was always impressed with the job they did and how selfless they were.”

Phillips said he found his career in law enforcement to be very satisfying for much the same reason.

“Anytime you can help, people appreciate it,” he said. “Even when they don’t say anything, you can sense it.”

After about 22 years as a patrolman, Phillips was promoted to lieutenant in November 2006.

“We’ll miss Dale, that’s for sure,” said Waynesburg police Chief Rob Toth, who worked with Phillips for the last 18 years. “He is dedicated and has always been very reliable.”

Phillips said one of the interests he hopes to explore after leaving the force is photography, which is something he enjoys and would like to do better. He said he also has received a couple of job offers that he might think about later.

But before considering any job prospects, Phillips said, he just plans to take some time off and do some hunting and enjoy himself.

Asked about changes in law enforcement over the years, Phillips said one thing he noticed is people don’t seem to respect police as much as they did in the past.

“I just believe there have been too many people pushing their own agendas and it has tended to change peoples’ views (of police),” he said.

But this hasn’t diminished his love for the job, which he said he’ll miss after walking out the door for the last time as a member of the force.

“I’m really going to miss working with the public,” Phillips said. “I’ve made a lot of friends here over the years.

“There are a lot of good people in this town.”