‘I’ll miss it’: Waynesburg police chief retires
Samantha Karam/For the Observer-Reporter
Waynesburg Borough police Chief Robert Toth retired May 31, after 22 years with the department.
Samantha Karam/For the Observer-Reporter
Robert Toth holds a photo of himself in 1998, at age 32, when he was promoted from part-time to full-time patrolman for Waynesburg Borough Police.
Last Friday closed a chapter for Robert Toth.
The Carmichaels resident, Waynesburg’s longtime police chief, retired.
“You get into police work for the betterment of the town. It’s been an honor working here for 22 years,” Toth said.
An officer for much of his career in Waynesburg, Toth was appointed chief in 2013 and set about making some changes to the department. Under his lead, borough police gained a K-9 narcotics unit, a crime scene investigator and two Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program officers to inspect CDL trucks for infractions.
Toth said he also spearheaded ideas like implementing a full-time staff of nine officers and assigning Tasers, patrol rifles and radios to individual officers, which he said has proven to make the equipment last longer. He also requested his officers be trained in emergency response tactics for schools.
“I try to be proactive,” he said.
Toth’s road to police work started in 1993, when he worked as a jail guard. He said hearing the inmates’ stories piqued his interest in criminal justice. Also, his grandfather, whom he looked up to, was a police sergeant. Toth recalled hearing his stories while growing up.
“(I had) the drive to do the right thing,” he said. “To help people.”
And help others he did, as documented in a binder his wife made, detailing the success stories of Toth’s career. From the residents he rescued in the 2010 Avalon Court Apartment fire to a little white dog in a flea-infested home, Toth keeps reminders of those he’s helped.
“It’s good to know all the work you did made a difference, that you had a positive impact,” he said. “You’re here to serve the people and to protect them. Sometimes listening (to their troubles) is all you need to do.”
He also remembers the difficulties – those things he’s seen that are unique to so many first responders.
“You have to have a strong faith to survive in this career,” Toth said. “Because you see and hear things that would make people shudder, some things someone should never see.”
Every day, as he donned his uniform, badges and gun, Toth, a devout Catholic, also put on his St. Michael necklace. St. Michael is the patron saint of chivalry, the sick and suffering, police officers and other service members.
“You gotta fall back on something,” he said of his faith. “I pray for my guys every day and I worry about them every day and I do rely on my faith to get me through a lot.”
Mike Simms, borough manager, said Waynesburg is in the process of hiring Toth’s replacement, reviewing applications. Simms said he will assist the police secretary with shift scheduling and Mayor Brian Tanner will take over most of Toth’s duties until a new chief is hired.
Toth said his plans for the future include “trying to wind down stress-wise, get a lot of yard work done and travel a bit.”
“Driving in on your last day, you notice things you didn’t notice before,” Toth said of the borough he helped protect for the past two decades. “On (Route) 21, at the top of the hill, I saw the whole town and just thought how much I’ll miss it.”