Double duty: Talent for music has cops in Warren now booking gigs

By Guy D'Astolfo | September 3, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Songs are about life from a police officer’s point of view.

WARREN — Five members of the Warren Police Department formed a band a few months ago with the simple goal of raising money for a fellow officer injured in the line of duty.

But something unexpected happened: They picked up some fans.

The One Forty Ones were formed after an April house fire in which Officer Doug Hipple was severely burned trying to rescue the occupants. Hipple is now at home recuperating.

The band recorded a CD, which sold several hundred copies. Several gigs followed.

Now, the band that was supposed to be temporary finds itself looking ahead. It is getting requests to perform and has begun to schedule more shows, including one this Saturday at the Warren Community Amphitheater.

“We’re playing it by ear,” said Detective Wayne Mackey, who is the lead guitarist and vocalist.

Mackey formed the band and also writes all the songs. The name, he explained, comes from the Warren Police Department’s address: 141 South Ave.

The other band members are: John Greaver, bass and vocals; Geoff Fusco, guitar; Jeff Cole, drums; Mark Krempasky, vocals; and Mike Hotil, keyboards, and the only one who is not a police officer.

Mackey said the band’s popularity surprised him. “We played and, lo and behold, people liked the songs,” he said.

Each of the eight songs on the self-titled CD — which will be available at Saturday’s concert — are about life from a police officer’s point of view.

All are tongue-in-cheek, except one: “3,000 Vacant.” It is about the troubling condition of Warren, which has at least 3,000 vacant homes. “It’s the most socially conscious song on the album,” said Mackey.

Other songs include “North Park Stroll,” which is about a popular spot for hookers; and “The Rookie Jam,” a spoof on being a freshman cop.

Then there’s “I’m So Blue,” which plays off a lament that, according to Mackey, every cop mutters at some point in his career: “I should’ve been a fireman.”

Musically, the One Forty Ones draw comparisons to classic rockers such as Bob Seger, Michael Stanley, Tom Petty, The Band and even The Grateful Dead.

Mackey doesn’t try to pin down the sound.

“If you ask me, I’d say my influences are between country-rock and the Michael Stanley Band,” he said. “If you ask someone else, they might say something different.”