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Retiring Mill Creek Park police chief will miss his ‘unique’ job
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Sitting in his office, L. Nathaniel Pinkard is retiring from Mill Creek Police as the former Chief.
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN — Being a police officer of Mill Creek Park Police Department isn’t like being a cop in other jurisdictions.
“It’s a unique position,” said L. Nathaniel Pinkard, who retired last week as the department’s chief. “You’re a law enforcement officer in every sense of the word, but you’re also charged with looking out for the park.”
Pinkard, 58, of the city, started with the department in 1980. He moved to the park district after being laid off from the city police department.
“I came to the park district and I’m still here 28 years later,” the chief said.
He worked as a park police sergeant from 1981 to 1983; lieutenant from 1983 to 1984; assistant chief from 1985 to 1992; and was named chief in 1992.
The Rayen School graduate plans to spend his new-found free time traveling, playing jazz and gospel music on the saxophone, taking pictures, golfing, working around the house and devoting more time to the community boards on which he serves. He serves as a deacon at Tabernacle Baptist Church.
Though he won’t be there day-to-day, Pinkard still plans to visit park facilities and attend events.
He says he’ll miss the park district and employees of both the police department and the park district most.
Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.