A Life Remembered: City Beat Cop 'Touched a Lot of People's Lives'

Summary

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William V. Roland Sr. was the proverbial New Haven beat cop, and one of the last of a breed. Roland, who died Jan. 3 at age 82, was a patrolman for 40 years, before retiring in 1993. He walked practically every neighborhood in New Haven during those 40 years, noted his only child, William Roland Jr. of East Haven.

"He loved being a cop, walking the beat,"said his son. "He also drove the paddy wagon for a good 10 years. He worked school crossings, and 'crossed' Rosa DeLauro when she attended school in Fair Haven. He touched a lot of people's lives. People would greet him on his days off as he drove through their neighborhoods. (New Haven Police) Chief (Francisco) Ortiz said he set the standard for how cops are supposed to be. Instead of using a billy club or gun or pulling out the cuffs, he talked things out with people.

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A Life Remembered: City Beat Cop 'Touched a Lot of People's Lives'

He only used his gun once. He was the neighborhood beat cop."

Born April 17, 1923, in Bridgeport, a son of the l...

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