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Letter to the editor

No secret is safe around him

If you know something, good luck keeping it from Detective Ronald Noodwang. He has a way of making folks spill their guts.

By Abhi Raghunathan, Times Staff Writer
Published February 13, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - The teenager was adamant. He didn't want to talk. Period.

But St. Petersburg police homicide Detective Ronald Noodwang wanted to keep the conversation going, even if it meant making small talk with a young man wanted in connection with a series of burglaries.

So the two talked about everything - life, family - in a small room in the Police Department.

Finally, the young man cracked.

He said he knew who was responsible for two shocking homicides that had transfixed the city for the past six weeks. He was there the night that two homeless men, David Heath and Jeff Shultz, were killed.

That interview led to the arrests of Dorion Dillard and Cordaro Hardin on first-degree murder charges last year. A case that had frustrated seasoned investigators for weeks suddenly fell into place.

"The guy had kind of built up a wall," Noodwang recalled. "When you start over and kind of tear down the wall a little bit, people open up. ... People want to tell the truth, and you've just got to get it out of them."

As confessions go, the teenager's admission was nothing new for Noodwang, 47, who has a reputation as one of the department's best interviewers. The reason: He has the patience to get people to talk.

This year, Noodwang was recognized as a co-winner of the Ned March/Bud Purdy Award, one of the department's highest honors. The other winner was Sgt. Charlie Burnette, who oversaw staffing for such major events as the CNN/YouTube Republican presidential debate.

"Anyone who has worked with Detective Noodwang has expressed only praise for his efforts, as well as his ability to work and gain the confidence of people from all walks of life," Lt. Michael Kovacsev, who until recently was the head of the homicide unit, wrote in a nomination letter. "A large part of that talent is fostered by the reputation of trust he has maintained in the community for a number of years."

Noodwang, who has three daughters, joined the department when he was 25, after a friend at church suggested that he apply.

He started as a patrol officer, then went on to various investigative assignments in burglary, robbery, special operations, narcotics and homicide. Over the years, he has investigated hundreds of homicides.

He credits his time as a patrol officer with helping him understand how to interview possible suspects and witnesses. He learned that talking politely and getting to know people elicited useful information. Being rude or mad didn't work.

"I'm basically not the bad cop," Noodwang said. "That's kind of old-fashioned. If somebody goes in there the interview room with a hot head, well, you're not going to get much.

"You have to get to somebody's level to deal with them."

The work exacts a price. Noodwang believes the long hours, which can vary every week, were a contributing factor in his divorce. And homicide cases - even ones that don't generate a lot of publicity - require a great deal of work.

"I put just as much time and effort as I can into each case," Noodwang said. "A lot of these drug-related murder cases, they still have families. They still have mothers. They call me on a regular basis, asking, 'Anything new? Anything new?'"

Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8472.

By the numbers

Homicides inSt. Petersburg

2002:23 homicides

2003:22 homicides

2004:19 homicides

2005:30 homicides

2006:21 homicides

2007:26 homicides

2008:2 homicides so far

[Last modified February 12, 2008, 23:35:56]