Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Former Highland Police Chief Bill Pierce dies at age 75

Bill Pierce, whose career in law enforcement spanned four decades, saw him climb to the top echelons of command in the Illinois State Police and serve two stints as Highland’s chief of police, died Friday. He was 75.

Pierce’s life could be summed up in a single phrase, “To serve and protect.”

“He was a tremendous leader for not only our agency, but for our community. He was always willing to go above and beyond the call of duty,” said Illinois State Police Commander Jay Keeven, a Highland resident, who said Pierce was one of his role models.

Keeven described Pierce as the iconic image of an Illinois State Police trooper.

“(He was) strong, physically fit and brimming with confidence and integrity, which is part of what drew me to the agency,” Keeven said.

Pierce moved to Highland in 1957 when he was still a young Illinois State Police trooper. He would spend 29 years with ISP, working his way up from trooper to lieutenant colonel and the position of deputy superintendent. During his ISP career, Pierce received numerous awards and commendations, including the Governor’s Award for Valor and the Distinguished Law Enforcement Award. He was also the first ISP trooper to receive the Parade magazine Law Enforcement Award, which was awarded by the publication in conjunction with the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

After retiring from the state police, Pierce was hired in March of 1986 to become Highland’s chief of police and director of public safety — a position he held for 12 years, retiring in May of 1998 after 41 years in law enforcement.

But duty called him out of retirement again in 2004 when the city of Collinsville needed an interim police chief. Pierce filled the role for Collinsville for nine months, before again being tapped for service by his hometown.

After the controversial ouster of Joe Michaelis as police chief, Highland city leaders needed someone who would command immediate respect while being thrust into a tumultuous situation where many city residents and rank-in-file in the police department were at odds with the city administration. They called on Pierce.

“What always impressed me about Bill was his unwavering devotion to our community. He had retired from his first, distinguished career with the Illinois State Police to serve as Highland’s police chief which, like most municipal offices, is a thankless job,” said former Highland Mayor Rob Bowman, who appointed Pierce as both interim police chief in July 2004 and later, in January of 2005, as interim city manager.

“Even more impressive was that Bill came out of his second retirement several times to help our community as an interim chief of police and even city manager. Bill was the city manager at the end of my term as mayor. After Homer Poss, I am not sure I have witnessed such a genuine love for — and dedication to — Highland. Our city will miss him,” Bowman said.

Pierce retired for the last time in May of 2005, when Mark Latham was hired as Highland city manager. Latham, who came to Highland from Arkansas, said Pierce was instrumental in helping him adjust into his new job.

“Both he and Peggy (Pierce’s wife) were almost what I would say were a mother and father to me for the fist few months I was here — before my wife and son got up here,” Latham said. “He was just a great person to work with. Anytime you would ask him to help out with something, he would say, ‘Sure.’”

Pierce was also civic-minded outside his official capacities.

He was a past president of the Highland Chamber of Commerce, playing vital roles in its success for nearly 20 years. He also has served as board chair of the Highland Area Community Foundation Board and was one of the persons responsible for Highland’s Christmas decorations. Other accomplishments to his credit included getting repairs completed on the Chamber building, the success of the citywide clean-up program, developing many of the Chamber promotional materials and serving as a liaison between the Chamber and the city of Highland.

Pierce was also a member of the Highland Rotary Club, Highland Optimists and was active in numerous other charitable, civic and law enforcement organizations and events.

Pierce also spearheaded the committee that pushed for Highland voters to OK a 1 percent non-homerule sales tax in March 2006. The referendum passed with almost 63 percent voting in favor.

The money has funded projects such as the construction of the northwest quadrant of the peripheral route, the first half of which — Frank Watson Parkway — has been completed, and the second half is scheduled to be done by next year. The Sixth Street storm sewer project was also done with the funding, and the realignment of Iberg Road is being funded by it.

“He’s the one who deserves the credit for seeing some of these major infrastructure projects being completed,” Latham said.

Pierce also campaigned for Highland’s fiber-to-the-home initiative, which also won with overwhelming majority, with 75 percent voting in favor in a referendum in April.

Pierce’s tireless efforts did not go unnoticed by those not only in Highland, but around the Metro-East. In 2006, the Highland Chamber of Commerce awarded him the Bob Hardy Citizen of the Year Award. In 2007, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments bestowed him with its Lifetime Public Service Award.

<> Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland. Burial will be in Highland City Cemetery.