Remembered as a friend, a father and someone who cared

By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

St. Bernard’s Catholic Church was filled with mourner’s Tuesday morning paying their last respects to Chief Robertson. With most of the pews full it was a fitting testimony to a man who had spent much of his life giving back to his community. Attending members of area police departments paid their respects to Chief Robertson by wearing a black and blue band around their badges.

My first experiences with New Washington Police Chief Scott Robertson came when I was in second grade and he was part of the Crawford County Sheriff’s D.A.R.E. unit. Perhaps it was a break from normal school work that made the D.A.R.E. classes enjoyable, but it also could have been the then-Deputy Robertson’s enthusiasm he brought with him in educating kids and looking out for their best interests.

While he wouldn’t stay on as D.A.R.E. officer for long, Robertson didn’t stop his work with the New Washington community. By 1997 he became the village’s EMS Administrator and, following the retirement of Chief Patterson in 1999, Robertson was behind the wheel of the squad car enforcing the peace of the town.

During his initial years as the police chief of New Washington my main recollection of Robertson would be his waving as I would pass by. It was in his passing that I found that many people share the same memory of him. Occasionally if we were in line at a place, such as the Dutch Town Dairy Bar, he would ask me how my parents were doing, and would inquire about how I was doing in college, and if and where I was employed.

Shortly after starting at WBCO/WQEL in 2012 as a reporter for crawfordcountynow.com, and weekend on-air news reporter, my epilepsy made a surprise re-appearance in my life. Luck was on my side, as it occurred while I was driving past Robertson’s house.

I had made a left and, while driving slowly, crashed into the telephone pole outside of his house on Mansfield Street in my 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix. Robertson was the first respondent and was able to put the car in park, as well as try to subdue me until an ambulance could arrive.

After that episode the next time I was able to see Chief was at a New Washington Village Council meeting the following spring. After the meeting was finished I thanked him for helping me out. I had asked him if he could recall what the seizure was like; he gave a simple response.

“It was pretty scary,” Robertson said.

In the last year of Robertson’s life I was able to see him in a different light other than police officer; I was able to see Scott Robertson, proud father. Covering sports for the first time last year for crawfordcountynow.com, Robertson was at most of the Buckeye Central sporting events cheering on his children, and their team, the Bucks.

I have vivid memories of Buckeye Central defeating Colonel Crawford for the final NCC Championship at Buckeye Central’s gymnasium this past season. At the end of the game I had moved into the bleachers to take photos of the madness that had ensued on the court in celebration of the victory. In the sea of people I saw a proud father congratulate his son, Sam Robertson, and the Buckeye Central team.

Most recently Robertson was a representative for New Washington in the Central Joint Ambulance District. After last Wednesday’s meeting of the CJAD, Robertson and I spoke briefly like our normal conversations had gone many times before.

“How have you been?” Robertson asked.

“Oh I’m doing alright. How are you doing?” I responded.

“I’m doing pretty good, we just got Sam moved into college up in Youngstown,” Robertson said.

“Excellent! What is he majoring in?” I asked.

“Engineering,” Robertson responded.

Anthony Conchel, who was covering the CJAD meeting from the Telegraph-Forum, asked Robertson if Sam would be playing basketball in college.

“No, he figured that with his studies for engineering he probably wouldn’t have the time,” Robertson said.

“Well I have to go and get a few more quotes, have a good evening,” I said.

“Have a good evening,” Robertson replied.

This would be the last conversation with Chief Robertson that I would have. The following morning my boss Gary Ogle called informing me that Robertson had passed away in the morning. The first word out of my mouth was a disbelieving “What?” It was a shock that a person I had spoken to the night before had passed. The news came just as shocking as news of the passing of former Bucyrus Mayor Roger Moore. They were just here a minute ago and now gone.

But it was the little moments over the past few years I will remember. Those are the lasting memories of New Washington’s most recent police chief that I will take with me. Rest in peace, Chief Robertson, and thank you for all you have done.