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By: Timothy Kays
The concept of Back the Blue takes on a whole new meaning in small town America. When you have a close knit community like Stryker, Ohio, where your neighbors double as family and friends, supporting the local police means going a little further than the average…especially when your native son police chief is turning the big 5-0.
When that day came to pass, a large crowd turned out at the Stryker Main Stop on the morning of August 6 for a surprise party to help celebrate Stryker Chief of Police Steve Schlosser’s 50th birthday. Chief Schlosser’s morning routine of grabbing a coffee at the Main Stop turned into a public display of affection and appreciation for the head of their police department.
Chief Schlosser almost got away before the assembly could congregate, but his Lieutenant, Hayworth Treace, who happened to be in on the surprise, corralled Schlosser and brought him back where the entourage awaited.
Bobbi Schlosser, the Chief’s mother, stepped forward and addressed the group and noted that Lisa and Richard Whitlock suggested that there should be an event to honor Schlosser’s birthday. “They asked me to be the spokesperson since I gave him birth,” Bobbi said, “…so I’m going to tell you a little bit about my boy.” “Oh my God,” Chief Schlosser exclaimed with a grin, and with that, the event was underway.
“Two weeks after graduation from Stryker,” Bobbi recalled, “…a 17 year old kid left for the United States Marine Corps. He turned 18 in boot camp. To the delight of Mr. Johnson, the music teacher, he was accepted into the Marine Corps Band…he played the drums. Once there, however, he found himself among musicians who had graduated in music theory, and even taught music.
He called home one day, and he said, ‘Mom, I’m changing my MOS.’ I said, ‘To what?’ He said, ‘It’s called FAST Company.’ I said, ‘What is that?'” Chief Schlosser cut in and said, “Actually, I was crying because I got kicked out of the school of music.” “He said, ‘It’s Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team,’ Bobbi continued. I said, ‘You mean you’re going from playing the drums to being a sharpshooter sniper?’ And the tears rolled…typical mother.”
“God always have plans for each one of us,” Bobbi added. “That Marine Corps training brought Steve back to Stryker, where he was born and raised, to protect and serve his hometown.” The Marine Corps training that Bobbi spoke of is extensive. As a member of the USMC, Chief Schlosser was an active participant in Operation Just Cause (1989 – Panama), Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm (1990 – Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq), and Operation Provide Comfort (1992 – Haiti). He deployed for two combat tours of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and saw heavy action against Iraqi insurgents during a battle in the Al-Anbar provincial city of Hit.
Lieutenant Treace came forward to speak, and traced the lineage of his friendship with Chief Schlosser back to the late 90s when they both were working at Sauders. I think I had on a cutoff shirt, and he saw my tattoo, dropped by on a forklift, gave me an Oorah, and we’ve been friends ever since. I joined the same unit he was in back in 2000, and then we deployed like a year later together to Kuwait and Iraq.”
“After that, it’s kind of all downhill because we’ve been friends ever since like, almost 25 years. He got me my job here in Stryker when he became the Chief. Actually, he called me up before that. I was working part time somewhere else, and he’s like, ‘Hey, I want you to come work for me.’ So, since 2005, I’ve been working for the big guy, and I wouldn’t rather work for anybody else.”
Lisa Whitlock, one of the organizers of the surprise birthday event, came forward to present Chief Schlosser a creation from her own hands…a large, customized afghan representing the Thin Blue Line banner, with a green stripe added to represent his service in the USMC.
“With everything going on,” Lisa said, “I wanted to do something. Just a kind token, or anything. I mean, I’m sure these guys appreciate a kind word. I work in the medical field and anytime somebody says something nice, it’s appreciative. So I wanted to do something. I made this flag. I started it two months ago. It took me 48 days to make this, which is not bad.”
“Basically I used the black and white yarn for this police military flag. Individually, the black and white are unique and special, but together they are strong and united. The blue stripe represents the sacrifice that our law enforcement officers make every day to protect the citizens of our community. The courage that an officer shows us as an example of the selflessness that they demonstrate on a daily basis.”
“Officers do not know what lies ahead of them, but they’re willing to meet any challenge head on to protect and serve us. The green stripe also represents sacrifice that our military men and women demonstrate every day. The determination and bravery that the military shows us is an example of the leadership that this country is built on. Military does not know where their path may lead, but they are willing to fight for our freedoms and defend our country.”
“Each stitch that’s been made for this blanket is connected and intertwined together. Although each stitch is individually made, it works better when it’s connected together, serving a purpose to be joined together. I want this blanket to be a symbol of togetherness that binds us as a group that is willing to work together at sacrifice together. I want communities to become stronger and built up, not torn down and destroyed. We can serve a purpose if we just work together>”
I challenge you and I challenge myself to be the individual that helps one another, or lifts one another up. I want us to be like a light that guides and leads the way. I want to be more like Jesus, that is the True Light. I want peace and harmony; I want faith and truthfulness. Are we up to the challenge? I think we are if we work together with love, forgiveness and understanding, I dedicate this flag as a symbol of togetherness. Happy 50th birthday, Steve. Thank you for all that you’ve done for us, and keep up the good work.”
“I thank my Lord for putting me in this position,” Chief Schlosser said. “For giving forgiving me my beautiful wife. This is my team right here, and she is the most important person to me ever on the face of this earth. She’s drug me out of the hole when times were bad, and showed me what true life is with Jesus Christ as her Savior. She pointed me in that direction, and she continues to keep me in line. But it’s just stuff like this that just makes this makes this the best place in the world….our little Stryker.”
Timothy can be reached at tim@thevillagereporter.com