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Letter to the editor

Reserve officer honored for service to city

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 13, 2008

St. Petersburg Police Reserve Officer Fletcher Warner is not your average guy. At 58, he still runs 5 miles and swims 1,000 yards at North Shore Pool five days a week, keeping him so fit and trim that his wife, Barbara, calls him "Fat-Free Fletcher."

He served the city for 34 years as a full-time St. Petersburg police officer, working some of the toughest assignments, including K-9 and the SWAT team,before retiring in 2005. He rode police motorcycles, too, handing out traffic citations to wayward drivers, with a special enthusiasm for those who exceeded the speed limit in school zones.

Late in his career, he volunteered for the Street Crimes Unit, arresting street drug dealers and other hardened criminals. From my conversations with him, I believe it was his favorite assignment.

But Fletcher is anything but a grizzled police veteran. Rather, he is a soft-spoken, selfless man with a big heart. Many have benefited from his friendship and special talent with anything mechanical.

Fletcher found that he really could not retire, so he re-enlisted as a reserve police officer - continuing to wear the uniform and perform the duties of a police officer - only now without pay. He also took a civilian job as the department's armorer and maintains all of the firearms used by officers.

Fletcher recently was selected as the 2007 Reserve Police Officer of the Year. At aceremony, he was unable to say anything more than "Thank you." This award is a special recognitionfor a honorable man who has devoted his life to serving the residents of St. Petersburg.

William Proffitt, St. Petersburg police spokesman

[Last modified January 12, 2008, 21:44:55]